Vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

A vacuum cleaner includes a main body case which includes a main body connection port at a front side, a pair of wheels provided on the left and right side portions of the main body case to support the main body case movably and conceals at least a back surface of the main body case when viewed in a rotation axis direction, and a secondary battery provided in an area sandwiched between the pair of wheels and arranged in conformity with the shape of the main body case.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of prior International Application No. PCT/JP2018/019274 filed on May 18, 2018, which is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-123256, filed on Jun. 23, 2017.

FIELD

Embodiments of the invention relate to a vacuum cleaner.

BACKGROUND

A vacuum cleaner which is provided with a vacuum cleaner body having wheels is known.

According to a conventional vacuum cleaner, a vacuum cleaner body is pulled with a dust collection hose connected to the vacuum cleaner body to move forward or to change the movement direction of the vacuum cleaner body to the right or left. The operability of such a kind of vacuum cleaner depends on easiness in handling a vacuum cleaner body greatly.

According to the conventional vacuum cleaner, the dust collection hose is connected to a front side of the vacuum cleaner body or the dust collection hose extends through the front side of the vacuum cleaner body. Thus, a dust container for accumulating dust which flows into the dust container from the dust collection hose is arranged in a front half portion of the vacuum cleaner body, and an electric fan for generating suction negative pressure is arranged in a rear half portion of the vacuum cleaner body.

The center of gravity of the vacuum cleaner body tends to be arranged forward from a rotation axis of a wheel (a virtual rotation axis of an axle) from the convenience of arrangement of such a dust container and an electric fan.

When turning the vacuum cleaner body in a reverse direction, easiness in handling the vacuum cleaner body is deteriorated as the center of gravity of the vacuum cleaner body is apart from the rotation axis of the wheel.

Further, when the dust collection hose is pulled to stand the vacuum cleaner body up with the front side of the vacuum cleaner body facing upward in order to make the dust collection hose reach a higher place to clean the higher place, the easiness in handling the vacuum cleaner body is deteriorated as the center of gravity of the vacuum cleaner body is apart from the rotation axis of the wheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a vacuum cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a vacuum cleaner body of the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner body of a vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a primary dust container of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a primary dust container of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the primary dust container of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the primary dust container of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a dust removing mechanism of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a view of a power transmission mechanism of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a view of the power transmission mechanism of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a view of the power transmission mechanism of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a view of the power transmission mechanism of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a container lock mechanism of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention in a state where a main body handle is pulled out.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an internal structure of the main body handle and a wheel of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the main body handle and the wheel of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the main body handle and the wheel of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the main body handle and the wheel of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the main body handle and the wheel of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the main body handle and the wheel of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a handle return unit of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a station of the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the station of the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a power transmission path of the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram of the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 27 is a sequence diagram relating to movement of dust from the vacuum cleaner to the station by the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a side view of the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a deceleration mechanism of the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of the deceleration mechanism of the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of the deceleration mechanism of the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to one embodiment of the invention, a vacuum cleaner is provided. The vacuum cleaner includes a main body case which has a suction port at a front side of the main body case, a pair of wheels which is provided on left and right side portions of the main body case to support the main body case movably and conceals at least a back surface of the main body case when viewed in a rotation axis direction, and a secondary battery which is provided in an area sandwiched between the pair of wheels and arranged in conformity with a shape of the main body case.

A vacuum cleaning apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 31. The same or corresponding configurations are denoted by the same reference numeral in the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views illustrating the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1 according to the embodiment includes a stationary station 2 and a vacuum cleaner 3 configured to be coupled to and decoupled from the station 2.

FIG. 1 illustrates a mode in which the vacuum cleaner 3 is coupled to the station 2. This mode is referred to as a storage mode of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1. FIG. 2 illustrates a mode in which the vacuum cleaner 3 is decoupled from the station 2. FIG. 2 illustrates a mode in which the vacuum cleaner 3 is used for cleaning.

The vacuum cleaner 3 is a so-called cordless vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner 3 is, but is not limited to, a so-called canister vacuum cleaner and may be an upright vacuum cleaner, a stick vacuum cleaner, or a handy vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner 3 configured to be coupled to and decoupled from the station 2 is mountable to the station 2 and also loadable on the station 2. Any of coupling or decoupling the vacuum cleaner 3 to or from the station 2, mounting the vacuum cleaner 3 to the station 2, and loading the vacuum cleaner 3 on the station 2 represents storing the vacuum cleaner 3 in the station 2.

The station 2 has both of a function of charging the vacuum cleaner 3 and a function of accumulating dust collected by the vacuum cleaner 3. The station 2 is positioned at an appropriate place in a living room. Further, the station 2 may have a table shape for merely loading the vacuum cleaner 3 which is in the storage mode on the station or may have a recess portion for storing the whole or part of the vacuum cleaner body 3 in the station. Further, the station 2 may conceal the vacuum cleaner 3 which is in the storage mode.

A user decouples the vacuum cleaner body 7 of the vacuum cleaner 3 connected to the station 2 from the station 2 (FIG. 2), moves the vacuum cleaner 3 on a surface to be cleaned in the living room, or moves the vacuum cleaner 3 held in hand and cleans the surface to be cleaned. Then, the vacuum cleaner body 7 is returned (coupled) and stored to the station 2 by the user (FIG. 1). When the vacuum cleaner body 7 is coupled, the station 2 charges the vacuum cleaner body 7, and simultaneously, the vacuum cleaner 3 collects accumulated dust. In other words, after using the vacuum cleaner 3 for cleaning, the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1 collects dust collected by the vacuum cleaner 3 into the station 2 every time the vacuum cleaner body 7 is coupled to the station 2 and empties the dust collection chamber of the vacuum cleaner 3

The frequency of collecting dust from the vacuum cleaner 3 to the station 2 may not be every time the vacuum cleaner 3 is coupled to the station 2. The frequency of collecting dust may be every plurality of times of coupling of the vacuum cleaner 3 to the station 2. For example, in a case where the vacuum cleaner 3 is used once a day, the frequency of collecting dust may be the number of times every week, namely, every seven times.

The vacuum cleaner 3 includes the vacuum cleaner body 7 movable on the surface to be cleaned, and a pipe portion 8 attachable to and detachable from the vacuum cleaner body 7. The pipe portion 8 is connected to the vacuum cleaner body 7 in a fluid communication manner. The pipe portion 8 is an air path body connected to the vacuum cleaner body 7 to suck dust.

The vacuum cleaner body 7 includes a main body case 11, a pair of wheels 12 provided on left and right side portions of the main body case 11, a primary dust container 13 removably mounted to the main body case 11, a main body handle 14, a primary electric fan 15 housed in the main body case 11, a vacuum cleaner control unit 16 mainly controlling the primary electric fan 15, and a secondary battery 17 storing electric power supplied to the primary electric fan 15.

The vacuum cleaner body 7 drives the primary electric fan 15 with power stored in the secondary battery 17. The vacuum cleaner body 7 applies a negative pressure generated by the primary electric fan 15 to the pipe portion 8. The vacuum cleaner 3 sucks air containing dust (hereinafter, referred to as “dust-containing air”) from the surface to be cleaned through the pipe portion 8. The vacuum cleaner 3 separates dust from the sucked dust-containing air. The vacuum cleaner 3 collects and accumulates the separated dust and exhausts clean air from which the dust has been removed.

The main body case 11 has a front side portion provided with a main body connection port 18 corresponding to a suction port of the vacuum cleaner body 7. The main body connection port 18 is a joint to and from which the pipe portion 8 is attachable and detachable. The main body connection port 18 connects the pipe portion 8 to the primary dust container 13 in a fluid communication manner. The main body connection port 18 opens to the front side of the main body case 11.

The vacuum cleaner body 7 according to the embodiment is used in an attitude in which the front side of the main body case 11 is directed in a movement direction, in other words, in an attitude in which the main body connection port 18 is directed in the movement direction. This attitude is referred to as a use attitude of the vacuum cleaner body 7. The vacuum cleaner body 7 in the use attitude sometimes moves to face upward or downward around the wheels 12 upon being pulled by the pipe portion 8 held in the user's hand.

Further, the vacuum cleaner body 7 according to the embodiment is mounted (coupled) to the station 2 with the front side of the main body case 11 directed upward, in other words, with the main body connection port 18 directed upward. Such an attitude in which the main body connection port 18 is directed upward is referred to as a storage attitude of the vacuum cleaner body 7. The vacuum cleaner body 7 in the storage attitude is put down from above (lowered) and mounted on the station 2. The state of the vacuum cleaner body 7 mounted on the station 2 is called a storage state of the vacuum cleaner body 7.

The wheels 12 movably support the vacuum cleaner body 7.

The primary dust container 13 accumulates dust sucked into the vacuum cleaner 3. The primary dust container 13 separates dust from the dust-containing air which flows into the vacuum cleaner body 7, collects and accumulates the dust, and sends clean air from which the dust has been removed to the primary electric fan 15.

The main body handle 14 is used to carry the vacuum cleaner body 7. The main body handle 14 is bridged into an arch shape in a width direction of the main body case 11.

The primary electric fan 15 sucks air from the primary dust container 13 to generate negative pressure (suction negative pressure).

The vacuum cleaner control unit 16 includes a microprocessor (not illustrated) and a storage device (not illustrated) for storing various calculation programs executed by the microprocessor, parameters etc. The storage device stores various settings (arguments) associated with operation modes set in advance. The operation modes are associated with outputs from the primary electric fan 15. In each operation mode, input values (an input value input to the primary electric fan 15, a value of current flowing in the primary electric fan 15) which are different from each other are set. Each of the operation modes is associated with an operation input received by the pipe portion 8. The vacuum cleaner control unit 16 selects one appropriate operation mode corresponding to an operation input to the pipe portion 8 from the operation modes set in advance, reads the setting of the selected operation mode from a storage unit, and operates the primary electric fan 15 according to the read setting of the read operation mode.

The secondary battery 17 supplies power to the primary electric fan 15 and the vacuum cleaner control unit 16. The secondary battery 17 is electrically connected to a pair of charge electrodes 19 provided at the vacuum cleaner body 7.

The pipe portion 8 sucks the dust-containing air from the surface to be cleaned and guides the dust-containing air to the vacuum cleaner body 7 by the negative pressure applied from the vacuum cleaner body 7. The pipe portion 8 includes a connection pipe 21 as a joint attachable to and detachable from the vacuum cleaner body 7, a dust collection hose 22 connected to the connection pipe 21 in a fluid communication manner, a hand operation pipe 23 connected to the dust collection hose 22 in a fluid communication manner, a grip portion 25 projecting from the hand operation pipe 23, an operation unit 26 provided at the grip portion 25, an extension pipe 27 removably coupled to the hand operation pipe 23, and a suction port body 28 removably coupled to the extension pipe 27.

The connection pipe 21 is connected to the primary dust container 13 through the main body connection port 18 in a fluid communication manner.

The dust collection hose 22 is an elongated and flexible hose having a substantially cylindrical shape. The dust collection hose 22 has one end portion (here, a rear downstream end portion) connected to the connection pipe 21 in a fluid communication manner. The dust collection hose 22 is connected to the primary dust container 13 through the connection pipe 21 in a fluid communication manner.

The hand operation pipe 23 connects the dust collection hose 22 and the extension pipe 27 to each other. The hand operation pipe 23 has one end portion (here, a rear downstream end portion) connected to the other end portion (here, a front upstream end portion) of the dust collection hose 22 in a fluid communication manner. The hand operation pipe 23 is connected to the primary dust container 13 through the dust collection hose 22 and the connection pipe 21 in a fluid communication manner. In other words, the connection pipe 21 is a joint portion for connecting the dust collection hose 22 to the vacuum cleaner body 7.

The grip portion 25 is a portion configured to be gripped by the user to operate the vacuum cleaner 3. The grip portion 25 has an appropriate shape facilitating grasping the grip portion by the user and projects from the hand operation pipe 23.

The operation unit 26 includes switches associated with the respective operation modes. For example, the operation unit 26 includes a stop switch 26 a associated with operation stop control for the primary electric fan 15, a start switch 26 b associated with operation start control for the primary electric fan 15, and a brush switch 26 c associated with power supply to the suction port body 28. The stop switch 26 a and the start switch 26 b are electrically connected to the vacuum cleaner control unit 16. The user of the vacuum cleaner 3 can operate the operation unit 26 to alternatively select the operation modes of the primary electric fan 15. The start switch 26 b also functions as an operation mode selection switch during operation of the primary electric fan 15. The vacuum cleaner control unit 16 switches the operation modes in the order of strong, medium, weak, strong, medium, weak, . . . , every the time the vacuum cleaner control unit 16 receives an operation signal from the start switch 26 b. Instead of the start switch 26 b, the operation unit 26 may include a strong operation switch (not illustrated), a medium operation switch (not illustrated), and a weak operation switch (not illustrated).

The extension pipe 27 has a telescopic structure in which cylindrical bodies overlap each other and is configured to be extendable. The extension pipe 27 has one end portion (here, a rear downstream end portion) including a joint attachable to and detachable from the other end (here, a front upstream end portion) of the hand operation pipe 23. The extension pipe 27 is connected to the primary dust container 13 through the hand operation pipe 23, the dust collection hose 22, and the connection pipe 21 in a fluid communication manner.

The extension pipe 27 includes a holding projection 27 a. The holding projection 27 a is used to store the pipe portion 8. The holding projection 27 a may be provided at the suction port body 28.

The suction port body 28 is configured to move or slide on a surface to be cleaned, such as a wooden floor or a carpet, and has a suction port 31 defined in a bottom surface of the suction port body facing the surface to be cleaned during the moving or sliding. Further, the suction port body 28 includes a rotary cleaning body 32 rotatably arranged at the suction port 31 and an electric motor 33 for driving the rotary cleaning body 32. The suction port body 28 has one end portion (here, a rear downstream end portion) including a joint attachable to and detachable from the other end (here, a front upstream end portion) of the extension pipe 27. The suction port body 28 is connected to the primary dust container 13 through the extension pipe 27, the hand operation pipe 23, the dust collection hose 22, and the connection pipe 21 in a fluid communication manner. In other words, the suction port body 28, the extension pipe 27, the hand operation pipe 23, the dust collection hose 22, the connection pipe 21, and the primary dust container 13 form a suction air path extending from the suction port 31 to the primary electric fan 15. The electric motor 33 alternately repeats start and stop of operation every time the electric motor 33 receives an operation signal from the brush switch 26 c.

The vacuum cleaner 3 starts the primary electric fan 15 when the start switch 26 b is operated. For example, when the start switch 26 b is operated while the primary electric fan 15 is stopped, the vacuum cleaner 3 firstly starts the primary electric fan 15 in the strong operation mode, changes the operation mode of the primary electric fan 15 to a medium operation mode upon operation of the start switch 26 b again and changes the operation mode of the primary electric fan 15 to the weak operation mode upon operation of the start switch 26 b three times, which is repeated in a similar manner hereafter. The strong operation mode, the medium operation mode, and the weak operation mode are operation modes set in advance. An input value to the primary electric fan 15 is the largest in the strong operation mode and the smallest in the weak operation mode. The started primary electric fan 15 sucks air from the primary dust container 13 to reduce the pressure in the primary dust container 13 into negative pressure.

The negative pressure in the primary dust container 13 is applied to the suction port 31 sequentially through the main body connection port 18, the connection pipe 21, the dust collection hose 22, the hand operation pipe 23, the extension pipe 27 and the suction port body 28. In the vacuum cleaner 3, dust on the surface to be cleaned is sucked together with air by the negative pressure applied to the suction port 31. The primary dust container 13 separates dust from the sucked dust-containing air, collects and accumulates the dust, and sends air separated from the dust-containing air to the primary electric fan 15. The primary electric fan 15 exhausts the air sucked from the primary dust container 13 outside the vacuum cleaner body 7.

The station 2 is installed at an appropriate position on the surface to be cleaned. The station 2 includes a base 41 configured to couple the vacuum cleaner body 7, and a dust collection unit 42 integrally provided on the base 41. Further, the station 2 includes a dust transport pipe 43 and a deceleration mechanism 44, in the storage mode of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1, the dust transport pipe 43 is connected to the primary dust container 13 of the vacuum cleaner 3, and when the vacuum cleaner body 7 in the storage attitude is tilted into the use attitude, the deceleration mechanism 44 moves so that the vacuum cleaner body 7 may move. Further, the station 2 includes mounting detectors 45 for detecting that the vacuum cleaner 3 is mounted to the station 2.

The base 41 is a place where the vacuum cleaner body 7 of the vacuum cleaner 3 is coupled and decoupled, a place where the vacuum cleaner body 7 is mounted and a place where the vacuum cleaner body 7 is loaded. The base 41 has a width dimension similar to that of the dust collection unit 42, and protrudes forward from the dust collection unit 42 to expand in a rectangular shape. The base 41 has a shape and dimensions for storing the vacuum cleaner body 7 of the vacuum cleaner 3 in plan view. The base 41 includes a placing base surface 41 a for supporting the vacuum cleaner body 7 by contacting a back surface of the vacuum cleaner body 7 in the storage attitude in which the front side is directed upward, in other words, a back surface of the main body case 11. The placing base surface 41 a preferably has a shape in conformity with the shape of the back surface of the main body case 11.

The base 41 includes a charging terminal 46 connectable to the vacuum cleaner body 7. Coupling the vacuum cleaner 3 to the station 2 causes the charging terminal 46 to make contact with the charge electrodes 19 of the vacuum cleaner body 7 to make electrical connection.

The base 41 includes a bulging portion 47 arranged to be close to a side surface of the vacuum cleaner body 7 in the storage mode of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1.

The dust collection unit 42 is arranged in back of the base 41. The dust collection unit 42 has a box of an appropriate shape to be placed integrally with the base 41 on the surface to be cleaned. The dust collection unit 42 extends above the base 41. In other words, the dust collection unit 42 has a protruding portion provided adjacent to the base 41 which is a storage space for the vacuum cleaner 3 and extending upward from the storage space. The dust collection unit 42 has an appropriate shape so as not to interfere with the vacuum cleaner body 7 connected to the base 41.

The dust collection unit 42 includes a case 48, a secondary dust container 49 for collecting dust discharged from the primary dust container 13 through the dust transport pipe 43 to accumulate the collected dust, a secondary electric fan 50 housed in the dust collection unit 42 and connected to the secondary dust container 49 in a fluid communication manner, a station control unit 51 for mainly controlling the secondary electric fan 50, and a power cord 52 for guiding power from a commercial AC power source to the dust collection unit 42.

Further, the dust collection unit 42 includes a pipe attachment portion 53 to which the pipe portion 8 of the vacuum cleaner 3 can be attached.

The case 48 and a top plate of the base 41 are integrally molded from resin.

The secondary dust container 49 accumulates dust discarded from the vacuum cleaner 3. The secondary dust container 49 is connected to the dust transport pipe 43 in a fluid communication manner. The secondary dust container 49 separates dust from air containing dust which flows in from the dust transport pipe 43, collects and accumulates the dust, and sends clean air from which dust is removed to the secondary electric fan 50. The secondary dust container 49 is removably mounted on the left side (right side as viewed from the front side) of the dust collection unit 42 and is exposed from the station 2 in appearance.

The secondary electric fan 50 sucks air from the secondary dust container 49 to generate negative pressure (suction negative pressure) and moves dust from the primary dust container 13 to the secondary dust container 49. In other words, the secondary electric fan 50 applies the negative pressure to the primary dust container 13 via the secondary dust container 49 to move the dust from the primary dust container 13 to the secondary dust container 49. The secondary electric fan 50 is accommodated on the right side (left side as viewed from the front side) of the dust collection unit 42.

The station control unit 51 includes a microprocessor (not illustrated) and a storage device (not illustrated) for storing various calculation programs executed by the microprocessor, parameters etc. The station control unit 51 controls the operation performance of the secondary electric fan 50 and controls charging of the secondary battery 17 of the vacuum cleaner 3.

The dust transport pipe 43 is connected to the primary dust container 13 in the storage mode of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1. The dust transport pipe 43 has an air path for moving dust collected by the vacuum cleaner 3 to the secondary dust container 49. When the vacuum cleaner 3 is coupled to the station 2, the dust transport pipe 43 is connected to the primary dust container 13, and the primary dust container 13 is connected to the secondary dust container 49 in a fluid communication manner.

The dust transport pipe 43 is connected to a suction side of the secondary dust container 49. The negative pressure generated by the secondary electric fan 50 is applied to the dust transport pipe 43 via the secondary dust container 49.

The dust transport pipe 43 has an inlet connected to the primary dust container 13 of the vacuum cleaner 3 and an outlet connected to the secondary dust container 49. The dust transport pipe 43 extends rearward from the inlet arranged in the base 41 into the dust collection unit 42 and extends upward while bending in the dust collection unit 42 to the outlet arranged in a lateral side of the secondary dust container 49.

The charging terminal 46 and the inlet of the dust transport pipe 43 are provided adjacent to the base 41.

The pipe attachment portion 53 is provided on a right side surface (left side as viewed from the front side) of the dust collection unit 42. The pipe attachment portion 53 has a shape adapted to the holding projection 27 a of the extension pipe 27. The pipe attachment portion 53 stands and holds (stores) the extension pipe 27 via the holding projection 27 a.

The pipe attachment portion 53 may be provided at the vacuum cleaner body 7 of the vacuum cleaner 3. In this case, the vacuum cleaner body 7 stands and holds (stores) the extension pipe 27 via the holding projection 27 a.

The mounting detector 45 includes, for example, a first mounting detector 45 a provided at the base 41 and a second mounting detector 45 b provided at the pipe attachment portion 53. The first mounting detector 45 a detects that the vacuum cleaner body 7 is coupled to the station 2, in other words, that the vacuum cleaner body 7 is mounted to the station 2 or that the vacuum cleaner body 7 is loaded on the base 41. The second mounting detector 45 b detects that the pipe portion 8 of the vacuum cleaner 3 is mounted to the station 2. In a case where the pipe attachment portion 53 is provided at the vacuum cleaner body 7, the second mounting detector 45 b detects that the pipe portion 8 of the vacuum cleaner 3 is mounted to the vacuum cleaner body 7. Each of the mounting detectors 45 is a so-called microswitch. In other words, when the vacuum cleaner body 7 is coupled to the station 2, the first mounting detector 45 a is pressed to the vacuum cleaner body 7 to detect the coupling. When the pipe portion 8 of the vacuum cleaner 3 is mounted to the station 2 or vacuum cleaner body 7, the second mounting detector 45 b is pressed to the pipe portion 8 to detect the mounting.

When the vacuum cleaner 3 is coupled to (mounted on, loaded on) the station 2, the charge electrodes 19 of the vacuum cleaner 3 is electrically connected to the charging terminal 46 of the station 2, and the dust transport pipe 43 of the station 2 is connected to the primary dust container 13. Subsequently, the station 2 starts charging the secondary battery 17 of the vacuum cleaner 3. The station 2 also starts the secondary electric fan 50 at appropriate timing. The started secondary electric fan 50 sucks air from the secondary dust container 49 to reduce the pressure in the secondary dust container 49 into negative pressure.

The negative pressure in the secondary dust container 49 is applied to the primary dust container 13 through the dust transport pipe 43. In the station 2, dust accumulated in the primary dust container 13 is sucked together with air by the negative pressure applied to the primary dust container 13. The secondary dust container 49 separates the dust from the sucked air, collects and accumulates the dust, and sends air from which the dust is separated to the secondary electric fan 50. The secondary electric fan 50 exhausts the air cleaned, sucked from the secondary dust container 49 outside the station 2.

The vacuum cleaning apparatus 1 may be configured so that an air path of the vacuum cleaner 3 for connecting the primary dust container 13 to the primary electric fan 15 is mechanically switched to connect the secondary dust container 49 of the station 2 to the primary dust container 13 of the vacuum cleaner 3 and that the operation of the container 13 transfers dust from the primary dust container 13 of the vacuum cleaner 3 to the secondary dust container 49 of the station 2. In this case, the air path of the vacuum cleaner 3 for connecting the primary dust container 13 to the primary electric fan 15 is preferably switched to an air path for connecting the secondary dust container 49 of the station 2 to the primary dust container 13 of the vacuum cleaner 3 immediately before operation of the primary electric fan 15 for transporting dust. The air path for connecting the secondary dust container 49 of the station 2 to the primary dust container 13 of the vacuum cleaner 3 is preferably switched to the air path of the vacuum cleaner 3 for connecting the primary dust container 13 to the primary electric fan 15, immediately after the operation of the primary electric fan 15 for transporting dust.

The vacuum cleaner body 7 of the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the embodiment will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner body of the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner body of the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

The horizontal cross-section of the vacuum cleaner body 7 illustrated in FIG. 3 corresponds to a cross-section in a plane substantially parallel to the front side of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1 in the storage mode. FIG. 3 illustrates a state in which the connection pipe 21 of the pipe portion 8 is removed from the vacuum cleaner body 7. FIG. 4 illustrates a state in which the connection pipe 21 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 7.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the vacuum cleaner body 7 of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the invention includes the main body case 11 having a rear half portion and a front half portion where the rear half portion has a cylindrical shape laid in a width direction of the main body case 11 and the front half portion arcuately bulges forward from the rear half portion of cylindrical shape in plan view. The main body case 11 has a back surface of arcuate shape in side view.

The main body connection port 18 extends along a line (hereinafter, referred to as a center line C) which passes through substantially the center in a width direction of the main body case 11 and substantially the center in a height direction, and reaches the primary dust container 13. FIGS. 3 and 4 are a cross-sectional view taken along the center line C.

The connection pipe 21 connected to the main body connection port 18 includes a handle 55. The handle 55 is arranged above the center of gravity of the vacuum cleaner 3 in the storage attitude (FIG. 1). The handle 55 includes an inclined portion 55 a on the front side in a movement direction of the vacuum cleaner 3. The front side of the vacuum cleaner 3 in the movement direction corresponds to the upper side of the vacuum cleaner body 7 in the storage attitude and the front side of the vacuum cleaner body 7 in the use attitude. The handle 55 is arranged on the opposite side (back surface side) of the vacuum cleaner body 7 as viewed from the main body handle 14. In other words, the main body handle 14 is arranged on the opposite side (front surface side) of the vacuum cleaner body 7 as viewed from the handle 55.

The respective wheels 12 are disposed at the left and right ends of the rear half portion of cylindrical shape in the main body case 11. Further, in the main body case 11, the respective wheels 12 are concentrically arranged in the rear half portion of cylindrical shape. Each of the wheels 12 has a diameter larger than a vertical dimension of the main body case 11, namely, the height of the main body case (corresponding to a diameter of the rear half portion of cylindrical shape). Further, in a side view of the vacuum cleaner body 7, i.e., when viewed in a rotation axis direction of the wheels 12, the wheel 12 obscures the back surface of the main body case 11. Thus, the vacuum cleaner body 7 causes the wheel 12 to contact with the surface to be cleaned, even after the upper and lower sides (front side and back side) of the main body case 11 is inverted or in the middle of inverting the upper and lower sides of the main body case 11. The main body case 11 is configured to invert the upper and lower sides (front side and back side) of the main body case 11 around the rotation axis of the wheels 12 without interference of the back surface with the surface to be cleaned. The vacuum cleaner body 7 is provided with an auxiliary wheel 12 a as a traveling wheel for supporting the vacuum cleaner body 7 having the front side facing upward together with the wheels 12. The connection pipe 21 is provided with an auxiliary wheel 12 b as a traveling wheel for supporting the vacuum cleaner body 7 having the back side facing upward together with the wheels 12.

The auxiliary wheel 12 b is provided at the handle 55. A suspension mechanism 56 for shock absorption is provided between the auxiliary wheel 12 b and the handle 55.

A distinction between the upper and lower sides (front side and back side) of the vacuum cleaner body 7 is made for description convenience. The vacuum cleaner 3 can be used for cleaning similarly even when the front side is directed upward or the back side is directed upward. Moreover, the upper and lower sides (front side and back side) of the main body case 11 can be inverted around the rotation axis of the wheels 12, and thus, the vacuum cleaner body 7 cannot substantially stand by itself in the storage attitude in which the front side is faced upward.

The use attitude in which a side on which the handle 55 is provided is directed for use to the surface to be cleaned is referred to as a first use attitude, and the use attitude in which the opposite side when viewed from the handle 55, namely, the main body handle 14 is directed for use to the surface to be cleaned is called a second use attitude. The pair of wheels 12 supports the vacuum cleaner body 7 on the surface to be cleaned in any one of the first use attitude and the second use attitude. In other words, even if the vacuum cleaner body 7 is tilted in any direction around the rotation axis of the wheels 12, the pair of wheels 12 supports the vacuum cleaner body 7 movably.

The secondary battery 17 is arranged on the opposite side of the main body connection port 18 across the rotation axis of the wheels 12, which is at the center in a rear end of the main body case 11. In other words, the secondary battery 17 is stored in the rear half portion of cylindrical shape in the main body case 11. The secondary battery 17 is arranged in conformity with the shape of the main body case 11. In other words, the secondary battery 17 includes cylindrical cells 17 a arranged in conformity with an inner surface of the rear half portion of cylindrical shape.

The secondary battery 17 has an arcuate shape which is centered substantially at the rotation axis of the pair of wheels 12. The center of the arcuate shape of the secondary battery 17 is located at a position in a direction orthogonal to the center line C of the main body case 11 on a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis of the pair of wheels 12, which is at a center portion of a dimension in a height direction of the main body case 11, specifically, at a position which is substantially half the dimension in the height direction.

A center line of the rear half portion of cylindrical shape of the main body case 11 and the rotation axis of the wheels 12 are substantially coaxial. The inside of the rear half portion of cylindrical shape of the main body case 11 which is centered at the line is referred to as an area A (FIG. 4). The wheels 12 are located outside the area A. In other words, each wheel 12 has an annular shape having an inner diameter larger than that of the area A. Further, the pair of wheels 12 is opposed across the area A.

The primary dust container 13 and the primary electric fan 15 are arranged in the area A and arranged in a width direction of the main body case 11. The primary dust container 13 is arranged in an area A1 (FIG. 3) of the area A which extends from the center to one of the wheels 12 (for example, a wheel 12 on the right side in a state where the vacuum cleaner body 7 is coupled to the station 2). The primary electric fan 15 is arranged in an area A2 (FIG. 3) of the area A which is located near the other of the wheel 12 (for example, a wheel 12 on the left side in a state where the vacuum cleaner body 7 is coupled to the station 2).

The secondary battery 17 is also arranged in the area A.

The main body case 11 includes a dust container chamber 57 for removably storing the primary dust container 13, and an electric fan chamber 58 for storing the primary electric fan 15. The dust container chamber 57 occupies the area A1. The electric fan chamber 58 occupies the area A2.

The primary electric fan 15 is stored in the electric fan chamber 58. The primary electric fan 15 has a suction port which is directed to the dust container chamber 57.

The dust container chamber 57 defines a cylindrical dust container arrangement space in conformity with the shape of the primary dust container 13. In other words, the main body case 11 has a wall surface for partitioning the dust container chamber 57 which is a wall surface surrounding the dust container arrangement space. The dust container chamber 57 is open toward a lateral side of the main body case 11. In other words, the dust container chamber 57 includes a dust container insertion/removal opening 57 a arranged on a side surface of the main body case 11. The dust container insertion/removal opening 57 a has an opening diameter smaller than the inner diameter of each wheel 12 of annular shape. The dust container insertion/removal opening 57 a is arranged on the inner side from the wheel 12 of annular shape in a side view of the vacuum cleaner body 7.

The dust container chamber 57 may have an appropriate opening to expose the primary dust container 13. The dust container chamber 57 is not limited to a chamber storing the whole of the primary dust container 13 and may be a chamber storing part of the primary dust container 13. In other words, the dust container arrangement space may communicate with the outside of the case 11 through an opening other than the dust container insertion/removal opening 57 a. The dust container insertion/removal opening 57 a may not be connected to an end surface of the primary dust container 13.

The primary dust container 13 has a tubular appearance with an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the wheel 12. The primary dust container 13 can be housed in the dust container chamber 57 and be inserted into and removed from the dust container chamber. The primary dust container 13 is inserted into and removed from the dust container chamber 57 through the dust container insertion/removal opening 57 a. In other words, the primary dust container 13 is inserted and removed in a width direction of the vacuum cleaner body 7. Thus, the primary dust container 13 is mounted to and dismounted from the vacuum cleaner body 7.

The handle 55 has a thickness large enough to be gripped by the user and a length extending in a front-rear direction of the vacuum cleaner body 7. The handle 55 extends substantially parallel to a center line of the main body connection port 18 or the center line C of the vacuum cleaner body 7.

In the dust container chamber 57, a push-out force generation unit 59 and a container auxiliary roller 60 are provided, the push-out force generation unit 59 generates a force pushing the primary dust container 13 stored in the dust container chamber 57 to the outside the dust container chamber 57, and the container auxiliary roller 60 guides the movement of the primary dust container 13 stored in the dust container chamber 57.

The push-out force generation unit 59 generates a force pushing the primary dust container 13, arranged in the dust container arrangement space partitioned by the dust container chamber 57, to the outside of the dust container arrangement space. The push-out force generation unit 59 is a so-called push rod. The push-out force generation unit 59 includes a rod portion 59 a in contact with the primary dust container 13, and a coil spring 59 b applying a force pushing the primary dust container 13 to the outside the dust container chamber 57 to the rod portion 59 a. The push-out force generation unit 59 may be provided in the primary dust container 13.

The container auxiliary roller 60 is in contact with an appropriate portion on an outer surface of the primary dust container 13 to assist the movement of the primary dust container 13 inserted into and removed from the main body case 11. Container auxiliary rollers 60 are provided so as to partially hold the primary dust container 13 thereamong. The container auxiliary rollers 60 may be provided at the primary dust container 13.

The container auxiliary roller 60 is rotatably provided in the main body case 11, that is, in the dust container chamber 57. The container auxiliary rollers 60 include pairs of container auxiliary rollers 60 opposed to each other across the primary dust container 13 in a moving direction of the primary dust container 13, that is, in a direction intersecting with an insertion/removal direction into/from the dust container chamber 57. The primary dust container 13 is guided by the container auxiliary rollers 60 and smoothly inserted into or removed from the vacuum cleaner body 7, in other words, smoothly inserted into and removed from the dust container chamber 57. The primary dust container 13 has a roughly cylindrical shape (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The container auxiliary rollers 60 include pairs of container auxiliary rollers 60 opposed in radial directions of the primary dust containers 13. This configuration prevents the primary dust container 13 from being inclined in an insertion/removal direction and being caught in the dust container chamber 57 when the primary dust container 13 is taken out of the vacuum cleaner body 7.

Specifically, the primary dust container 13 has a cut-off portion obtained by partially cutting off a cylindrical shape. The container auxiliary rollers 60 may be provided to be opposed across the cut-off portion of the primary dust container 13. The container auxiliary rollers 60 according to the embodiment are provided at positions across walls defining air paths 66 a, 66 b.

The vacuum cleaner 3 includes a container lock mechanism 61 for removably fixing the primary dust container 13 stored in the dust container chamber 57. The container lock mechanism 61 includes claw portions 62 movable in a direction different from the moving direction of the primary dust container 13 pushed out by the push-out force generation unit 59, and claw receiving portions 63 for catching the claw portions 62.

The claw portions 62 are provided at the primary dust container 13. The claw receiving portions 63 are provided at the main body case 11. Each of the claw receiving portions 63 forms a recess portion. The claw portions 62 may be provided at the main body case 11, and the claw receiving portions 63 may be provided in the primary dust container 13. In other words, the claw portions 62 are preferably provided at any one of the main body case 11 and the primary dust container 13, and the claw receiving portions 63 are preferably provided in the other of the main body case 11 and the primary dust container 13.

The primary dust container 13 will be described.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the primary dust container of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the primary dust container of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the primary dust container of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 6.

In addition to FIGS. 3 and 4, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, the primary dust container 13 of the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the embodiment accumulates dust sucked into the vacuum cleaner 3. The primary dust container 13 includes a separation unit 64 for separating dust from air containing dust sucked by negative pressure generated by the primary electric fan 15, a dust collection unit 65 for accumulating dust separated in the separation unit 64, a air communication path 66 for guiding air which flows out of the dust collection unit 65 to the primary electric fan 15, and a leg 67.

The separation unit 64 is connected to the main body connection port 18. The separation unit 64 includes a first separation unit 68 for separating relatively heavy dust from air containing dust which passes straight with the help of a difference in inertial force acting on the dust and air, and a filter unit 69 as a second separation unit for separating dust from the air containing relatively light dust which passes through the first separation unit 68.

The dust collection unit 65 is provided adjacent to the separation unit 64 and the air communication path 66. The dust collection unit 65 includes a coarse dust collection chamber 71 for accumulating relatively heavy dust from dust separated by the separation unit 64, and a filter chamber 72 for storing the filter unit 69.

The relatively heavy dust separated by the first separation unit 68 is called coarse dust. In other words, the first separation unit 68 separates coarse dust from air containing dust, sucked into the vacuum cleaner 3. The coarse dust collection chamber 71 is a first dust collection chamber for accumulating coarse dust separated by the first separation unit 68. Relatively light dust separated by the filter unit 69 is called fine dust. In other words, the filter unit 69 separates fine dust from air which passes through the first separation unit 68. The filter chamber 72 is a second dust collection chamber for accumulating fine dust separated by the filter unit 69. The coarse dust collection chamber 71 and the filter chamber 72 are collectively referred to as a dust collection chamber 73.

The dust-containing air flowing into the primary dust container 13 from the main body connection port 18 is separated into the coarse dust and the rest (air containing fine dust) by the first separation unit 68. The separated coarse dust is accumulated in the coarse dust collection chamber 71. The air containing fine dust separated by the first separation unit 68 flows into the filter chamber 72. The air flowing into the coarse dust collection chamber 71 also flows into the filter chamber 72. The air containing fine dust which flows into the filter chamber 72 is separated into the fine dust and air by the filter unit 69. The separated fine dust is captured by the filter unit 69 and accumulated in the filter chamber 72. Clean air having passed through the filter unit 69 is sucked into the primary electric fan 15 through the air communication path 66.

The first separation unit 68 includes a nozzle portion 75 connected to the main body connection port 18, a primary filter frame 76 of frusto-conical shape including the nozzle portion 75, and a first mesh filter 77.

The nozzle portion 75 extends from a suction port 78 a of a container body 78 corresponding to an outer shell of the primary dust container 13 into a container body 78.

The primary filter frame 76 is provided on an inner surface of the container body 78. In a state where the primary dust container 13 is mounted to the main body case 11, the primary filter frame 76 tapers along the center line of the main body connection port 18, that is, substantially along the center line C of the vacuum cleaner body 7. The large diameter bottom portion is in contact with an inner surface of the container body 78, and the small diameter bottom portion includes a coarse dust disposal port 79 connected to the coarse dust collection chamber 71 of the dust collection unit 65. The large diameter bottom portion has a diameter larger than the opening diameter of the suction port 78 a. A center line of the coarse dust disposal port 79 extends substantially along a center line of the suction port 78 a and extends substantially along the center line of the main body connection port 18. The coarse dust disposal port 79 corresponds to an inlet of the dust collection chamber 73.

The first mesh filter 77 is provided on a side surface of the primary filter frame 76. An intermediate air path 81 connected to the filter chamber 72 is defined outside the first mesh filter 77.

The first separation unit 68 has a negative pressure due to air flow sucked into the primary electric fan 15 through the first mesh filter 77 and air flow sucked into the primary electric fan 15 through the coarse dust disposal port 79.

The coarse dust collection chamber 71 accumulates relatively heavy dust separated by the first separation unit 68. The coarse dust collection chamber 71 is part of an air path for air sucked into the primary electric fan 15. The coarse dust collection chamber 71 is connected to the coarse dust disposal port 79 of the first separation unit 68. The coarse dust collection chamber 71 is also connected to the filter chamber 72. The coarse dust collection chamber 71 is arranged on the center line of the main body connection port 18, that is, substantially on the center line C of the vacuum cleaner body 7.

Between the coarse dust collection chamber 71 and the filter chamber 72 in which the filter unit 69 is stored, a partition wall 83 having coarse dust collection chamber outlets 82 is provided. The partition wall 83 is part of a wall of the dust collection chamber 73. Each of the coarse dust collection chamber outlets 82 of the partition wall 83 is provided with a second mesh filter 84. The coarse dust collection chamber 71 is an upstream air path for guiding air containing dust to the second mesh filter 84.

Further, the coarse dust collection chamber 71 is expanded in a direction away from the primary electric fan 15, in other words, in a direction approaching the filter unit 69. In other words, the coarse dust collection chamber 71 includes, adjacent to the second mesh filter 84, an expanded portion 85 abruptly increasing in cross-sectional shape of the air path. The partition wall 83 having the coarse dust collection chamber outlets 82 is provided between the expanded portion 85 and the filter chamber 72.

The second mesh filter 84 filters and separates dust from air containing coarse dust, which is sucked into the coarse dust collection chamber 71 by negative pressure. The second mesh filter 84 prevents the coarse dust from flowing out of the coarse dust collection chamber 71 to the filter chamber 72. Air flow which passes through the second mesh filter 84 compresses the dust accumulated in the coarse dust collection chamber 71. The second mesh filter 84 has substantially the same mesh as that of the first mesh filter 77. If fine dust is not separated by the first separation unit 68 and flows into the coarse dust collection chamber 71, the fine dust passes through the second mesh filter 84 and flows into the filter chamber 72 or is captured in the collection chamber 71 by coarse dust compressed like a filter.

The filter unit 69 filters and separates dust, particularly, fine dust which passes through the first separation unit 68, from air containing dust (dust-containing air) which is sucked by negative pressure generated by the primary electric fan 15. The filter unit 69 includes a pair of filters 86, 87 opposed to each other and a secondary filter frame 88 for supporting and maintaining the shapes of the pair of filters 86, 87.

The pair of filters 86, 87 has downstream surfaces opposed to each other. Each of the filters 86, 87 filters and separates dust from air containing dust sucked into the primary dust container 13. The filters 86, 87 have a mesh finer than those of the first mesh filter 77 of the first separation unit 68 and the second mesh filter 84 of the coarse dust collection chamber 71. The filters 86, 87 include, for example, non-woven fabric. The dust captured by the filters 86, 87 includes dust which can pass through the first mesh filter 77 and the second mesh filter 84.

One of the filters 86, 87 (filter 86) is directly exposed to air flowing into the filter chamber 72, and the other of the filters 86, 87 (filter 87) is exposed to air which passes through the one of the filters 86, 87 (filter 86). In other words, the filter 86 faces the intermediate air path 81 connecting the first separation unit 68 and the filter unit 69, and faces the coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 connecting the coarse dust collection chamber 71 and the filter chamber 72. The filter 87 is hidden by the filter 86 and arranged at a position which cannot be seen from the intermediate air path 81 and the coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82.

The pair of filters 86, 87 has a pleated filter having folds (ridge lines 86 a, 87 a) of substantially the same width (interval) and same depth.

The filter 86 facing the intermediate air path 81 and the coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 may have a fold wider and shallow than that of the filter 87. Since the filter 86 faces the intermediate air path 81 and the coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82, dust which passes through the first separation unit 68 and dust which flows out of the coarse dust collection chamber 71, namely, fine dust is firstly blown to the filter 86. Thus, the filter 86 catches the fine dust, being clogged gradually. As the filter 86 is clogged, fine dust blown from the intermediate air path 81 and the coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 to the filter 86 reaches the filter 87. Thus, the filter 87 also starts to be clogged. The filter 86 is more likely to be clogged than the filter 87. In other words, dust tends to adhere to the filter 86 compared with the filter 87. Accordingly, the fold of the filter 86 is made wider and shallower than that of the filter 87 to remove the dust readily from the filter 86 to which dust is more easily adhere.

The filters 86, 87 may each have a film of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, so-called Teflon (registered trademark)) on a surface on the upstream side so as to readily remove attached dust. Further, only the filter 86, which is more likely to be clogged than the filter 87, may have the film of polytetrafluoroethylene on the surface on the upstream side.

In the storage mode of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1, the filters 86, 87 have the ridge lines 86 a, 87 a (folds) extending in an up-down direction (vertical direction). In other words, the ridge lines 86 a, 87 a of the filters 86, 87 extend in a front-rear direction of the vacuum cleaner body 7. The filters 86, 87 are open at end surfaces intersecting folds.

The filters 86, 87 may have an open end surface having a zigzag shape with peaks and valleys along the end surface shape of the filters 86, 87 or interposing a plate-shaped frame with ventilation holes (not illustrated) between adjacent peaks.

The secondary filter frame 88 supports the pair of filters 86, 87 opposed to each other and spaced apart from each other. A space defined by the secondary filter frame 88 and the pair of filters 86, 87 corresponds to an air path on the downstream side of the filter unit 69. An internal space of the filter unit 69 is connected to the air communication path 66. The secondary filter frame 88 is arranged on both sides of the filter 86 and has a secondary filter outlet 89 connected to the air communication path 66. The secondary filter outlet 89 causes air having passed through the filters 86, 87 to flow out to the air communication path 66.

The filter chamber 72 is adjacent to the coarse dust collection chamber 71. The filter chamber 72 functions as a fine dust collection chamber for accumulating fine dust captured by the filter unit 69 through filtration/separation. Fine dust which passes through the first mesh filter 77 and the second mesh filter 84 is captured by the pair of filters 86, 87 having a finer mesh and accumulated in the filter chamber 72. In other words, the dust collection chamber 73 (the coarse dust collection chamber 71 and the filter chamber 72) is disposed upstream from the filters 86, 87.

The filter chamber 72 is part of the air path for air sucked into the primary electric fan 15. The filter chamber 72 is connected to the intermediate air path 81. The filter chamber 72 is also connected to the coarse dust collection chamber 71.

The air communication path 66 includes the air paths 66 a, 66 b for guiding air which flows out of the separation unit 64 to the primary electric fan 15. In other words, the air communication path 66 is branched into air paths and reaches the primary electric fan 15. The air communication path 66 is divided into, for example, two air paths 66 a, 66 b. The suction port 78 a for guiding air to the separation unit 64 is held between the air paths, for example, two air paths 66 a, 66 b. The two air paths 66 a, 66 b have substantially the same air path cross-sectional areas S. The two air paths 66 a, 66 b have shapes symmetrical with respect to a plane including a rotation axis of a fan of the primary electric fan 15. In other words, the air paths 66 a, 66 b are positioned near the edges on both sides of the centers of the first mesh filter 77, second mesh filter 84, and filter unit 69 and is separated from each other. The two air paths 66 a, 66 b meet and merge at an end of the air communication path 66 connected to the primary electric fan 15. In other words, the two air paths 66 a, 66 b are connected to the primary electric fan 15 via a merged air path 66 c of the air communication path 66. The air communication path 66 may be branched into three or more air paths. In other words, the air communication path 66 includes downstream air paths for guiding air which passes through the first mesh filter 77, the second mesh filter 84, and the filter unit 69 to the primary electric fan 15.

Coarse dust having a relatively large mass in dust-containing air flowing from the nozzle portion 75 into the first separation unit 68 passes straight from the nozzle portion 75 to the coarse dust disposal port 79 by an inertial force and is sent to the coarse dust collection chamber 71. Dust (coarse dust) flowing from the coarse dust disposal port 79 into the coarse dust collection chamber 71 is accumulated in the coarse dust collection chamber 71. In contrast, fine dust and air having a relatively small mass in the dust-containing air flowing from the nozzle portion 75 into the first separation unit 68 radially spread from the nozzle portion 75, pass through the first mesh filter 77 provided on a side surface of the primary filter frame 76, and flow into the filter chamber 72 through the intermediate air path 81. Part of the air also flows into the coarse dust collection chamber 71 together with the dust (coarse dust) flowing from the coarse dust disposal port 79 into the coarse dust collection chamber 71. The air flowing into the coarse dust collection chamber 71 passes through the second mesh filter 84 and flows into the filter chamber 72. Fine dust contained in the air flowing through the first mesh filter 77 or the second mesh filter 84 and flowing into the filter chamber 72 is filtered and separated by the filter unit 69 and captured on the surfaces of the pair of filters 86, 87. Clean air which passes through the filters 86, 87 is sucked into the primary electric fan 15 through the air communication path 66. At this time, the clean air is temporarily divided to pass through the air paths 66 a, 66 b, merged, and sucked into the primary electric fan 15.

The container body 78 defines the dust collection chamber 73, namely, the coarse dust collection chamber 71 and the filter chamber 72. The first separation unit 68 of the separation unit 64 and the air communication path 66 are arranged between the filter unit 69 and the primary electric fan 15 and are provided adjacent to each other. In other words, the separation unit 64, the air communication path 66, and the primary electric fan 15 are arranged in this order.

The primary electric fan 15, the separation unit 64 (the first separation unit 68 and the filter unit 69), the dust collection unit 65 (the coarse dust collection chamber 71 and the filter chamber 72), and the air communication path 66 are held between the pair of wheels 12.

The first separation unit 68 is arranged at the center in a width direction of the main body case 11, the filter unit 69 is positioned at one side portion of the main body case, for example at a right side portion, and the primary electric fan 15 is positioned at the other side portion of the main body case 11, for example, at a left side portion of the main body case.

The primary dust container 13 includes the container body 78 and a disposal port cover 92. The container body 78 has the dust collection chamber 73 defined to store dust to be sucked into the vacuum cleaner 3, and a disposal port 91 for discarding dust stored in the dust collection chamber 73. The disposal port cover 92 opens and closes the disposal port 91.

Further, the primary dust container 13 includes an air inlet 93 and an air inlet cover 94. The air inlet 93 directly introduces air from outside the air path including the primary dust container 13 by negative pressure generated by the secondary electric fan 50 of the station 2, and the air inlet cover 94 opens and closes the air inlet 93.

Further, the primary dust container 13 includes a dust removing mechanism 95 for removing dust attached to the filter unit 69, that is, dust attached to the filters 86, 87, and a power transmission mechanism 96 for associating the dust removing operation of the dust removing mechanism 95 with the opening operation of the disposal port cover 92.

Further, the primary dust container 13 includes a recess portion 97 provided in the dust collection chamber 73 and connected to the disposal port 91.

The primary dust container 13 may include a dust compression mechanism 98 for compressing dust accumulated in the primary dust container 13.

The container body 78 includes the separation unit 64, namely, the first separation unit 68 and the filter unit 69. The container body 78 defines the dust collection chamber 73, namely, the coarse dust collection chamber 71 and the filter chamber 72. Further, the container body 78 defines a machine compartment 99 for storing the power transmission mechanism 96. The container body 78 has a cylindrical shape as a whole. The container body 78 is mounted in the area A1 with a center line of the cylindrical shape directed in a width direction of the main body case 11.

The disposal port 91 and the air inlet 93 are each provided in a side surface of the container body 78. The air inlet cover 94 and the disposal port cover 92 are opened and closed simultaneously. The disposal port 91 is closed by the disposal port cover 92 except when dust is moved from the vacuum cleaner body 7 to the station 2. The air inlet 93 is closed by the air inlet cover 94 except when dust is moved from the vacuum cleaner body 7 to the station 2.

The disposal port 91 discharges dust accumulated in the primary dust container 13 together with air introduced from the air inlet 93. The disposal port 91 is arranged at a rear end of the main body case 11. The disposal port 91 is arranged at a portion where the station 2 makes contact with the vacuum cleaner body 7. In other words, the disposal port 91 is arranged in the back surface of the main body case 11. In the storage mode (FIG. 2) of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1, the back surface of the main body case 11 is located at the lowermost end of the main body case 11. In the storage mode of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1, the disposal port 91 is disposed below the filter unit 69. Further, in the storage mode of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1, the disposal port 91 opens below the filter unit 69.

A main body case disposal port 100 larger than the disposal port 91 is provided at a rear end of the main body case 11. In the storage mode of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1, the main body case disposal port 100 passes the dust transport pipe 43 of the station 2 therethrough and connects an inlet of the dust transport pipe 43 to the disposal port 91.

The disposal port 91 includes a coarse dust disposal port 101 connected to the coarse dust collection chamber 71 and a fine dust disposal port 102 connected to the filter chamber 72. The coarse dust disposal port 101 is a first disposal port for causing coarse dust to flow out of the coarse dust collection chamber 71. The fine dust disposal port 102 is a second disposal port for causing fine dust to flow out of the filter chamber 72. The coarse dust disposal port 101 and the fine dust disposal port 102 are aligned in a width direction of the main body case 11, that is, along the center line of the container body 78. The coarse dust disposal port 101 and the fine dust disposal port 102 are opened downward in a state where the vacuum cleaner 3 is coupled to the station 2. The fine dust disposal port 102 has a smaller opening area than that of the coarse dust disposal port 101. In other words, the fine dust disposal port 102 has a smaller proportion of the opening area of the disposal port 91 than the coarse dust disposal port 101. The coarse dust collection chamber 71 and the filter chamber 72 share the partition wall 83 and are adjacent to each other.

The disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94 each constitute part of a side surface of the container body 78. The air inlet cover 94 is provided to be reciprocally movable in a circumferential direction of the container body 78 of cylindrical shape. The disposal port cover 92 is supported by the container body 78 with a hinge mechanism (not illustrated). The disposal port cover 92 has an outward opening configured to be opened toward the outside of the primary dust container 13. The disposal port cover 92 opens and closes the coarse dust disposal port 101 and the fine dust disposal port 102 simultaneously. When the disposal port cover 92 is opened, the coarse dust disposal port 101 and the fine dust disposal port 102 are simultaneously connected to the dust transport pipe 43.

The coarse dust disposal port 101 and the fine dust disposal port 102 have opening widths substantially equal in a circumferential direction of the main body case 11, that is, in a direction intersecting the centerline of the container body 78, and the opening width of the coarse dust disposal port 101 is larger than that of the fine dust disposal port 102 in a width direction of the main body case 11, that is, along the center line of the container body 78. Such opening shapes contribute to simplification of the shape of the disposal port cover 92 for opening and closing the coarse dust disposal port 101 and the fine dust disposal port 102 simultaneously, and also contribute to simplification of an opening and closing mechanism of the disposal port cover 92.

The disposal port 91 is suitably provided with a packing 103. The packing 103 is an integral molding. The packing 103 is held between the disposal port cover 92 and the container body 78 to simultaneously seal the coarse dust disposal port 101 and the fine dust disposal port 102.

The recess portion 97 is a recess defined by the container body 78, the partition wall 83, and the disposal port cover 92. In other words, the container body 78, the partition wall 83, and the disposal port cover 92 serves as part of walls of the recess portion 97. The recess portion 97 stores dust in the dust collection chamber 73, specifically, dust in the coarse dust collection chamber 71.

The air inlet 93 is an inlet for taking air into the filter chamber 72 from outside the vacuum cleaner body 7 or from outside the air path which is positioned in the main body case 11 and connected to the primary electric fan 15. The air inlet 93 is an air inlet for generating air flow to move dust from the vacuum cleaner body 7 to the station 2.

The air inlet 93 is arranged at a portion farthest from the disposal port 91 when viewed in a circumferential direction of the container body 78, that is, at a portion 180 degrees away from the disposal port 91, in other words, the air inlet 93 and the disposal port 91 are arranged at positions symmetrical with respect to the center line of the container body 78. In other words, the air inlet 93 is arranged above the filter unit 69 in the storage mode of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1 (FIG. 1). In other words, the filters 86, 87 are arranged between the air inlet 93 and the disposal port 91.

Further, the air inlet 93 is arranged in an air path upstream (upstream of a flow generated by the primary electric fan 15) from the filters 86, 87.

Air introduced from the air inlet 93 causes fine dust filtered by the filters 86, 87 and coarse dust accumulated in the primary dust container 13 to simultaneously flow out of the disposal port 91. When negative pressure is applied to the filter chamber 72 from the dust transport pipe 43 through the fine dust disposal port 102, the air inlet 93 blows air to the filters 86, 87. The air blown to the filters 86, 87 blows off the dust captured on the surfaces of the filters 86, 87 and guides the dust to the fine dust disposal port 102. The filters 86, 87 have the ridge lines 86 a, 87 a extending in an up-down direction during dust removal, that is, in the storage mode of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1, and the end surfaces intersecting the folds are open. Thus, the air blown to the filters 86, 87 readily flows along the folds, and the separated fine dust can be caused to smoothly flow out of the ends of the folds.

At this time, the negative pressure is applied also to the coarse dust collection chamber 71 from the dust transport pipe 43, through the coarse dust disposal port 101. Since the coarse dust collection chamber 71 is directly connected to the filter chamber 72 and further indirectly connected to the filter chamber 72 through the first separation unit 68, the air flowing from the air inlet 93 also partially flows into the dust collection chamber 71. The air flowing into the coarse dust collection chamber 71 causes the coarse dust accumulated in the coarse dust collection chamber 71 to flow out of the coarse dust disposal port 101 (discharged).

The air inlet 93 according to the embodiment is provided in the container body 78 of the primary dust container 13 and arranged in the air path on the upstream side from the filters 86, 87 but may be provided in the air path downstream (downstream of a flow generated by the primary electric fan 15) from the filters 86, 87 (the air inlet 93 and the air inlet cover 94 indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6). In this case, the air inlet 93 communicates with the air path from the filters 86, 87 to the primary electric fan 15, for example, the air communication path 66.

In a state where the primary dust container 13 is stored in the dust container chamber 57 of the vacuum cleaner body 7, the container lock mechanism 61 includes an operation portion 105 at a portion of the primary dust container 13 exposed outside the vacuum cleaner body 7. The operation portion 105 serves as an input unit for release operation of the lock mechanism 61. The operation portion 105 receives a force for separating the claw portions 62 from the claw receiving portions 63.

The leg 67 is provided on an outer surface of a dust guide surface 108 of the container body 78 extending from the coarse dust disposal port 79 to the expanded portion 85 of the coarse dust collection chamber 71. The leg 67 swings between a storage position where the leg 67 is along the outer surface of the dust guide surface 108 and a use position where the primary dust container 13 stands by itself. The leg 67 is also usable as a handle of the primary dust container 13.

The leg 67 receives a force pushing out the primary dust container 13 generated by the push-out force generation unit 59 in a state where the primary dust container 13 is stored in the dust container chamber 57. A torsion spring (not illustrated) is provided between the leg 67 and the primary dust container 13. The torsion spring generates a force for moving the leg 67 to the use position in a state where the primary dust container 13 is taken out of the dust container chamber 57 and no external force is applied to the leg 67.

In the process of storing the primary dust container 13 in the dust container chamber 57, the leg 67 is guided by an inner wall surface of the dust container chamber 57 and swings from the use attitude to the storage attitude. In a state where the primary dust container 13 is stored in the dust container chamber 57, the rod portion 59 a of the push-out force generation unit 59 makes contact with an end of the leg 67 which is in the storage attitude, and the push-out force acts on the primary dust container 13.

When locking of the container lock mechanism 61 is released in a state where the primary dust container 13 is stored in the dust container chamber 57, the primary dust container 13 is pushed out of the dust container chamber 57 by a push-out force generated by the push-out force generation unit 59. At this time, the leg 67 swings from the storage attitude to the use attitude while following the inner wall surface of the dust container chamber 57 by a spring force of the torsion spring. The leg 67 in the use attitude supports the primary dust container 13 taken out of the vacuum cleaner body 7 in a self-supporting state (in a state where the left end of the leg 67 is put down as viewed in a direction in which reference numerals are readable in FIG. 6).

The secondary battery 17 surrounds the coarse dust collection chamber 71. In other words, the cells 17 a included in the secondary battery 17 are arranged along the inner surface of the rear half portion of cylindrical shape, in the main body case 11 and surrounds the coarse dust collection chamber 71.

The dust compression mechanism 98 is provided in the coarse dust collection chamber 71. The dust compression mechanism 98 holds coarse dust between the dust compression mechanism 98 and, for example, any wall surface of the coarse dust collection chamber 71 and compresses the coarse dust to reduce the volume of the coarse dust.

The coarse dust collection chamber 71 of the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the embodiment will be described.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the primary dust container of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the primary dust container 13 of the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the embodiment includes a first half body 13 a including the first separation unit 68, a second half body 13 b including the filter unit 69, and a lock mechanism 107 for fixing the first half body 13 a to the second half body 13 b.

As illustrated in FIG. 8 in addition to FIG. 3, the coarse dust collection chamber 71 of the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the embodiment includes the dust guide surface 108 for guiding dust, from the coarse dust disposal port 79 as the inlet of the dust collection chamber 73 to the recess portion 97.

The dust guide surface 108 is an inclined surface intersecting in an opening direction of the coarse dust disposal port 79, namely, the center line C of the vacuum cleaner body 7. The dust guide surface 108 extends substantially flat from the coarse dust disposal port 79 toward the recess portion 97. The dust guide surface 108 is part of an air path for guiding air flow from the coarse dust disposal port 79 toward the recess portion 97. Most of the coarse dust sucked into the vacuum cleaner body 7 passes through the coarse dust disposal port 79 and flows into the coarse dust collection chamber 71. The dust guide surface 108 obliquely guides the air flow including dust which flows into the coarse dust collection chamber 71 through the coarse dust disposal port 79.

The recess portion 97 includes a first portion 97 a provided in the partition wall 83 and recessed toward the filter unit 69, and a second portion 97 b recessed outward in a radial direction of the primary dust container 13 from the coarse dust collection chamber 71 toward the disposal port cover 92. The first portion 97 a and the second portion 97 b are connected to each other. The wall surface of the first portion 97 a smoothly curves toward the second portion 97 b. In other words, the partition wall 83 has a recessed portion recessed toward the downstream side of air flow from the coarse dust collection chamber 71 to the filter chamber 72. This recessed portion is the first portion 97 a. In addition, an inner wall of the coarse dust collection chamber 71 has a portion recessed toward the disposal port 91. This recessed portion is the second portion 97 b. The recess portion 97 includes a first portion 97 a and a second portion 97 b which are recessed in mutually different directions and are mutually connected.

The coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 includes a lower coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 a defined in the wall of the recess portion 97, and an upper coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 b defined in the wall of the dust collection chamber 73, separated from the wall of the recess portion 97. The lower coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 a is a first collection chamber outlet for causing air to mainly flow out of the recess portion 97. The upper coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 b is a second dust collection chamber outlet for causing air to mainly flow out of a portion of the coarse dust collection chamber 71 other than the recess portion 97. The lower coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 a is located closer to the dust guide surface 108 extending toward the recess portion 97, the recess portion 97 is held between the upper coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 b and the dust guide surface 108, and thus, the upper coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 b is located farther from the dust guide surface 108 than the lower coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 a.

The second mesh filter 84 includes a lower second mesh filter 84 a provided at the lower coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 a and an upper second mesh filter 84 b provided at the upper coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 b.

The lower coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 a is provided in one of the wall surfaces of the recess portion 97. The lower coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 a includes openings 82 c aligned in a width direction of the wall surface of the recess portion 97. The lower coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 a is provided in a portion of the partition wall 83 separating the coarse dust collection chamber 71 from the filter chamber 72, which is recessed toward the filter chamber 72, that is, in the first portion 97 a. The openings 82 c are arranged across the entire width of the wall surface of the recess portion 97.

The upper coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 b includes openings 82 d aligned in a width direction of a wall of the partition wall 83. The upper coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 b is separated from the dust guide surface 108 across the recess portion 97. The openings 82 d are provided in a range wider than that of the recess portion 97 in the width direction of the partition wall 83. The openings 82 d are provided across the entire width of the partition wall 83.

The partition wall 83 constitutes part of a wall of the dust collection chamber 73, and both side portions 83 a of the partition wall 83 positioned on both sides of the recess portion 97 form wall surfaces as viewed in a direction of dust flow from the dust guide surface 108 toward the recess portion 97.

The filter unit 69 causes clean air, which is obtained by filtrating and separating fine dust from air flowing out of the coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82, namely, the lower coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 a and the upper coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 b, to flow into the air communication path 66.

Air containing dust, flowing into the coarse dust collection chamber 71 from the coarse dust disposal port 79 of the first separation unit 68, passes straight from the coarse dust disposal port 79 and is blown to the dust guide surface 108. The air containing dust, having reached the dust guide surface 108, flows along the dust guide surface 108 toward the recess portion 97. The air flowing into the coarse dust collection chamber 71 is sucked into the lower coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 a and is also sucked into the upper coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 b. Spreading and branching of air in the coarse dust collection chamber 71, in other words, a flow field in the coarse dust collection chamber 71 causes dust having a relatively large mass (large-mass coarse dust) of coarse dust contained in the air to inertially flow straight along the dust guide surface 108 by an inertial force of large-mass coarse dust, while coarse dust having a small mass (small-mass coarse dust) is caused to flow to the upper coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 b. Thus, the large-mass coarse dust is mainly stored in the recess portion 97 arranged ahead of the dust guide surface 108, while the small-mass dust is mainly captured by the upper second mesh filter 84 b.

The dust removing mechanism 95 of the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the embodiment will be described.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the dust removing mechanism of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the dust removing mechanism 95 of the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the embodiment is arranged between the pair of filters 86, 87. In other words, the dust removing mechanism 95 is arranged in the internal space of the filter unit 69. The dust removing mechanism 95 removes dust from the pair of filters 86, 87 simultaneously.

The dust removing mechanism 95 includes a driven portion 112 including racks 111 being coupled, and a gear 113 sequentially meshing with the racks 111 while rotating in one direction to move the driven portion 112 along a predetermined track.

The driven portion 112 includes, in addition to the racks 111, a frame 115 for integrally coupling the racks 111, a mechanism, for example, a slider 116 for defining the moving direction of each of the racks 111, and dust removers 117 making contact with the filters 86, 87.

The racks 111 according to the embodiment include a pair of racks 111 arranged in parallel. The gear 113 alternately meshes with the pair of racks 111 to reciprocate the driven portion 112.

The frame 115 connects the ends of the pair of racks 111. The pair of racks 111 and the frame 115 have a rectangular shape as a whole.

The slider 116 includes a hole 111 a of the rack 111 and a rod-shaped rail 118 inserted through the hole 111 a and fixed to the secondary filter frame 88 of the filter unit 69. The slider 116 may include, for example, an elongated hole provided in the frame 115 or the rack 111, and a pin member, such as a screw or a rivet, inserted into the elongated hole and fixed to the secondary filter frame 88.

The gear 113 is arranged at the center of the filter unit 69. In other words, the gear 113 is held between the pair of filters 86, 87 and arranged at the center of projection planes of the filters 86, 87.

The gear 113 has teeth 113 a which are provided partially. In other words, the teeth 113 a of the gear 113 are partially removed. The teeth 113 a of the gear 113 sequentially mesh with the racks 111 during one rotation of the gear 113. The teeth 113 a of the gear 113 are limited to a range (the number of teeth) in which the teeth 113 a do not simultaneously mesh with two or more racks 111.

More specifically, the number of teeth 111 b of each rack 111 is larger than that of the teeth 113 a of the gear 113 by one. In other words, the number of grooves between the teeth 111 b of the rack 111 is the same as the number of teeth 113 a of the gear 113. For example, the number of the teeth 113 a of the gear 113 is four and the number of the teeth 111 b of the rack 111 is five. A distance from the bottom of a groove to the bottom of a groove between the pair of racks 111 is slightly larger than the outermost diameter of the gear 113. This difference (clearance) facilitates engagement and disengagement between the teeth 113 a of the gear 113 and the teeth 111 b of the rack 111.

During half rotation of the gear 113 from which the teeth 113 a are partially removed, the teeth 113 a mesh with one of the racks 111 to move the driven portion 112 in an outward movement of the gear 113. When the gear 113 further rotates (rotates by approximately 180 degrees), the teeth 113 a are disengaged from the one rack 111, meshes with the other rack 111, and moves the driven portion 112 in the return movement of the gear 113. The gear 113 may have a period in which the teeth 113 a are not temporarily engaged with any of the racks 111 between the outward movement and the return movement of the driven portion 112.

The dust removing mechanism 95 having three or more racks 111 may include a mechanism other than the slider 116 to define the moving direction of the rack 111, and a gear 113 having teeth entirely circumferentially. The dust removing mechanism 95 having three or more racks 111 may cause the gear 113 to rotate once or more for one cycle of movement of the driven portion 112 on the track.

The power transmission mechanism 96 of the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the embodiment will be described.

FIGS. 10 to 13 are each a diagram of the power transmission mechanism of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 10 and 12 illustrate the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94 which are closed by the power transmission mechanism 96. FIGS. 11 and 13 illustrate the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94 which are opened by the power transmission mechanism 96. Moreover, FIGS. 12 and 13 each illustrate the power transmission mechanism 96 from which a second gear 132 is removed.

As illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 13, in addition to FIGS. 3 and 5, the power transmission mechanism 96 of the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the embodiment receives, from the station 2, a driving force for the dust removing mechanism 95, the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94 and distributes, and transmits the driving force to the dust removing mechanism 95, the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94. The dust removing mechanism 95, the disposal port cover 92, and the air inlet cover 94, which obtain the driving force from the station 2 via the power transmission mechanism 96, are collectively referred to as a driven mechanism 120. The driven mechanism 120 varies between a state in which dust is transferred from the primary dust container 13 of the vacuum cleaner 3 to the secondary dust container 49 of the station 2 by using a driving force from the station 2 and a state in which the vacuum cleaner 3 is usable.

The power transmission mechanism 96 includes a joint half body 121, a first transmission mechanism 126 for transmitting a driving force from the joint half body 121 to the dust removing mechanism 95, a second transmission mechanism 127 for transmitting the driving force from the joint half body 121 to the disposal port cover 92, and a third transmission mechanism 128 for transmitting the driving force from the joint half body 121 to the air inlet cover 94.

The power transmission mechanism 96 distributes the driving force received from the station 2 also to the dust compression mechanism 98.

The joint half body 121 is part of a shaft coupling 129 for transmitting a rotational drive force. The joint half body 121 is coupled to a joint half body 122 of the station 2.

The first transmission mechanism 126 always transmits the driving force input to the joint half body 121 to the gear 113 of the dust removing mechanism 95. The first transmission mechanism 126 simply transmits the rotational chive force input to the joint half body 121 to rotate the gear 113. In other words, the first transmission mechanism 126 rotates the gear 113 reversely when the joint half body 121 rotates forwardly and rotates the gear 113 forwardly when the joint half body 121 rotates reversely.

The first transmission mechanism 126 includes a first gear 131 integrally rotating with the joint half body 121, and a second gear 132 having a large diameter and meshing with the first gear 131. The second gear 132 is rotatably supported by a shaft 133 (FIG. 3) extending through the secondary filter frame 88 of the filter unit 69 and integrally rotated with the gear 113 of the dust removing mechanism 95. In other words, the second gear 132 and the gear 113 of the dust removing mechanism 95 are integrally rotated with each other. Since the second gear 132 is larger than the first gear 131, the dust removing mechanism 95 performing operation while, for example, flipping or deforming the filters 86, 87 is driven by a motor having a smaller output (a drive source 169 of the station 2, described later).

The second transmission mechanism 127 opens and closes the disposal port cover 92 by the driving force input to the joint half body 121. The third transmission mechanism 128 opens and closes the air inlet cover 94 by the driving force input to the joint half body 121. The air inlet cover 94 and the disposal port cover 92 are opened and closed simultaneously. In other words, in response to opening the disposal port cover 92 by the second transmission mechanism 127, the third transmission mechanism 128 also opens the air inlet cover 94. Further, in response to closing the disposal port cover 92 by the second transmission mechanism 127, the third transmission mechanism 128 also closes the air inlet cover 94.

The third transmission mechanism 128 includes the first gear 131 shared with the first transmission mechanism 126, a lever portion 134 having teeth 134 a arranged arcuately to be meshed with the first gear 131, a guide portion 135 for guiding swinging of the lever portion 134, and a pair of stoppers 136 for defining (restricting) a swinging range of the lever portion 134.

The lever portion 134 has a swing center coinciding with the rotation center of the second gear 132. In other words, the lever portion 134 is supported together with the second gear 132 by a shaft for rotatably supporting the second gear 132. The lever portion 134 is directly connected to the air inlet cover 94.

The guide portion 135 includes a groove 137 provided in the container body 78 and a guide plate 138 arranged in the groove 137. The groove 137 arcuately extends according to a swinging trajectory of the lever portion 134. The guide plate 138 is integrated with the lever portion 134.

The stopper 136 defines (restricts) the swing range of the lever portion 134 according to a fully closed position and a fully open position of the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94.

The second transmission mechanism 127 includes the first gear 131 shared between the first transmission mechanism 126 and the third transmission mechanism 128, the lever portion 134, the guide portion 135, and the stopper 136 shared with the third transmission mechanism 128, a slider 139 for converting swinging of the lever portion 134 into reciprocating movement and transmitting the movement to the disposal port cover 92, and a disposal port cover closing spring 140 for generating a spring force to fully close the disposal port cover 92. The slider 139 resists the spring force of the disposal port cover closing spring 140 to open the disposal port cover 92. In addition, the slider 139 closes the disposal port cover 92 by using the spring force of the disposal port cover closing spring 140.

Here, the power transmission mechanism 96 transmits the driving force from the station 2 to the dust removing mechanism 95 for an appropriate period, but after the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94 have been fully opened or fully closed, even within the appropriate period in which the dust removing mechanism 95 is being driven, the power transmission mechanism 96 shuts off (separates) power transmission from the station 2 to the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94.

In other words, the second transmission mechanism 127 shuts off the transmission of the driving force from the joint half body 121 to the disposal port cover 92 when the disposal port cover 92 is fully opened or fully closed. In addition, the third transmission mechanism 128 shuts off the transmission of the driving force from the joint half body 121 to the air inlet cover 94 when the air inlet cover 94 is fully opened or fully closed.

Specifically, when the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94 are fully opened or fully closed, the second transmission mechanism 127 and the third transmission mechanism 128 release meshing of the teeth 134 a of the lever portion 134 with the first gear 131. In other words, the teeth 134 a arranged arcuately are provided (limited) in a range where the teeth 134 a are disengaged from the first gear 131 when the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94 are fully opened or fully closed.

When the disposal port cover 92 is fully closed or fully opened, the disposal port cover 92 is prevented from moving, and the teeth 134 a of the lever portion 134 which cannot resist the disposal port cover 92 are disengaged from the first gear 131 to shut off the transmission of the driving force (torque). When the air inlet cover 94 is fully closed or fully opened, the teeth 134 a of the lever portion 134 are disengaged from the first gear 131 to shut off the transmission of the driving force (torque).

To restore the meshing of the teeth 134 a of the lever portion 134 with the first gear 131, the power transmission mechanism 96 includes a drive source, such as return springs 154, for promoting smooth meshing of the teeth 134 a of the lever portion 134 with the first gear 131. When the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94 are fully opened or fully closed, each of the return springs 154 is compressed, storing energy. In addition, the return spring 154 which starts to open or close the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94 pushes back the lever portion 134 by consuming the energy and assists the restoration of meshing of the teeth 134 a of the lever portion 134 with the first gear 131.

Further, during operation of the dust removing mechanism 95 for an appropriate period of time, that is, while the dust removing mechanism 95 removes dust from the filters 86, 87, the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94 preferably maintain the fully open state. If the dust removing mechanism 95 is reciprocated by switching forward rotation and reverse rotation of the motor (the drive source 169 of the station 2, described later), whenever the motor switches the forward rotation and reverse rotation, the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94 are undesirably required to be opened and closed. Accordingly, the dust removing mechanism 95 according to the embodiment has a configuration to reciprocate the driven portion 112 by using the gear 113 rotating in one direction.

The container lock mechanism 61 of the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the embodiment of the invention will be described.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the container lock mechanism of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the container lock mechanism 61 of the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the embodiment includes the claw portions 62, the claw receiving portions 63 (FIG. 3), the operation portion 105 for receiving operation, a separation force transmission mechanism 141 for separating the claw portions 62 from the claw receiving portion 63 substantially simultaneously in response to the operation of the operation portion 105, and a resilient member 142 for generating a force for causing the claw portions 62 to project so that the claw portions 62 are caught by the claw receiving portions 63.

The claw portions 62 include pairs 143 of the claw portions 62 which moves in opposite directions between hooking to the claw receiving portions 63 and separating from the claw receiving portion 63. The claw receiving portions 63 also include pairs. The respective pairs 143 of the claw portions 62 are preferably equally arranged with respect to a place to which the push-out force from the push-out force generation unit 59 is applied. Further, the pairs 143 may share any one claw portion 62. For example, three claw portions 62 may form two pairs 143. In this case, one claw portion 62 belongs to the two pairs 143.

The operation portion 105 is integrated with any one of the claw portions 62.

The separation force transmission mechanism 141 substantially simultaneously transmits the force for separating the claw portions 62 from the claw receiving portions 63, from the operation portion 105 to the claw portions 62. The separation force transmission mechanism 141 includes a pair of slider portions 145, 146 each having a pair 143 of claw portions 62 combined, and a link 147 for coupling the pair of slider portions 145, 146 and transmitting the operation of one slider portion 145 to the other slider portion 146.

The pair of slider portions 145, 146 is configured to reciprocate substantially on the same line.

The link 147 includes a pair of the links 147 to transmit reverse movements of the one slider portion 145 to the other slider portion 146. Each of the link 147 includes a first joint portion 147 a coupled to the one slider portion 145, a second joint portion 147 b coupled to the other slider portion 146, and a pinhole 147 c provided at the center of the link 147. Into the pinhole 147 c, a pin 147 d provided at the primary dust container 13 is fitted. The link 146 swings around the pin 147 d. The pin 147 d is provided on a wall of the machine compartment 99.

The claw portions 62 and the separation force transmission mechanism 141 move substantially on the same plane.

The resilient member 142 includes, for example, a coil spring. When the claw portions 62 are separated from the claw receiving portions 63, the resilient member 142 stores energy due to displacement of one or both of the pair of slider portions 145, 146, while an operation force applied to the operation portion 105 is lost. Alternatively, one or both of the pair of slider portions 145, 146 are moved in a direction in which the claw portions 62 are caught by the claw receiving portions 63 against the operation force.

The claw portions 62, the operation portion 105, the separation force transmission mechanism 141, and the resilient member 142 are provided in the primary dust container 13, and the claw receiving portions 63 are provided in the main body case 11. The claw portions 62, the operation portion 105, the separation force transmission mechanism 141, and the resilient member 142 may be provided in the main body case 11, and the claw receiving portions 63 may be provided in the primary dust container 13. In other words, the claw portions 62, the operation portion 105, the separation force transmission mechanism 141, and the resilient member 142 are preferably provided in any one of the main body case 11 and the primary dust container 13, and the claw receiving portions 63 are preferably provided in the other of the main body case 11 and the primary dust container 13.

The operation portion 105 may also serve as a container handle 148 provided at the primary dust container 13. In this case, the operation portion 105 uses a force applied to the container handle 148 held by hand to take out the primary dust container 13 from the dust container chamber 57, as a force for separating the claw portions 62 from the claw receiving portions 63. The operation portion 105, namely, the container handle 148 is operated to be raised from a storage position to a use position, and the operation is transmitted to one of the pair of slider portions 145, 146 through the link mechanism 149 and used as the force for separating the claw portions 62 from the claw receiving portions 63.

When the primary dust container 13 is stored in the dust container chamber 57 of the main body case 11, the claw portions 62 are caught by the claw receiving portions 63, and the primary dust container 13 is fixed to the main body case 11 against a force pushing the primary dust container 13 out of the dust container chamber 57.

When the force for separating the claw portions 62 from the claw receiving portions 63 is applied to the operation portion 105, the container lock mechanism 61 separates the law portions 62 from the claw receiving portions 63 substantially simultaneously via the separation force transmission mechanism 141. Accordingly, a force fixing the primary dust container 13 to the main body case 11 against the force pushing the primary dust container 13 out of the dust container chamber 57 is lost. Then, the primary dust container 13 floats up (so-called pop-up) from the dust container chamber 57 of the main body case 11 and becomes removable.

The wheels 12 and the main body handle 14 of the vacuum cleaner body 7 according to the embodiment of the invention will be described.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention where the main body handle is pulled out.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an internal structure of the main body handle and a wheel of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the main body handle and a wheel of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 18 to 21 are each a cross-sectional view of the main body handle and a wheel of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 21, the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the embodiment includes the main body case 11, the wheels 12 for supporting the main body case 11, the main body handle 14 provided at the main body case 11, and base portions 151 integrated with the main body handle 14.

Each of the wheels 12 includes an annular ground contact wall 12 c making ground contact with the surface to be cleaned, and a side wall 12 d continuously connected to the ground contact wall 12 c and extending toward the rotation center of the wheel 12.

The main body handle 14 is bridged between the left and right wheels 12 archwise. The main body handle 14 not in use is stored in a handle receiving recess lib provided at a front edge of a top surface of the main body case 11 (FIG. 2). When used, the main body handle 14 is pulled out of the handle receiving recess lib and moved to a rear end portion of the main body case 11. Further, the shape of the main body handle 14 is adapted to the shape of a front edge of the front half portion of the main body case 11 of arcuate shape. The main body handle 14, pulled out most, reaches a rear end of the vacuum cleaner body 7. The main body handle 14 is configured to be moved to the rear of the vacuum cleaner body 7 substantially beyond immediately above the vacuum cleaner body 7 (FIG. 15) when the vacuum cleaner body 7 is arranged on a horizontal plane.

The base portion 151 is rotatably supported by the main body case 11. Each of the wheels 12 is rotatably supported by the base portion 151. In other words, the wheel 12 is rotatably supported by the main body case 11 via the base portion 151. The rotation range of the base portion 151 is limited. The base portion 151 rotates in a range where the main body handle 14 reaches the rear end portion of the main body case 11 from the handle receiving recess lib of the main body case 11.

The rotation axis of the wheel 12 and the rotation axis of the base portion 151 are arranged substantially coaxially. In other words, the main body handle 14 moves so as to rotate around the rotation axis of each wheel 12 and is stored in or pulled out of the handle receiving recess lib of the main body case 11.

The wheel 12 and the base portion 151 have an annular shape. The wheel 12 and the base portion 151 have an inner diameter large enough to pass the primary dust container 13, enabling the primary dust container 13 to be inserted into and removed from the dust container chamber 57 of the main body case 11 in the width direction of the vacuum cleaner body 7. In the embodiment, a wheel 12 and a base portion 151 which are not related to the mounting or dismounting of the primary dust container 13, that is, a wheel 12 and a base portion 151 positioned on the left side of the vacuum cleaner body 7 may not have an annular shape.

The base portion 151 is provided with first rollers 152 a for rotatably supporting the wheel 12. The first rollers 152 a are respectively provided on an outer periphery of the base portion 151 (FIG. 18).

The vacuum cleaner 3 further includes second rollers 152 b held between the main body case 11 and a base portion holder 153 to rotatably support each base portion 151 and wheel 12.

The second rollers 152 b include third rollers 152 c provided on one side surface of the base portion 151 and making contact with the base portion holder 153 (FIG. 19), and fourth rollers 142 d provided on the other side surface of the base portion 151 and making contact with the side wall 12 d of the wheel 12 (FIG. 20). The third rollers 152 c and the fourth rollers 142 d constrain the position of the base portion 151 in the rotation axis direction. The third rollers 152 c and the fourth rollers 142 d are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction of the base portion 151.

Further, the second rollers 152 b include fifth rollers 142 e provided on the inner periphery of the base portion 151 and making contact with the base portion holder 153 (FIG. 21).

Further, the second rollers 152 b include sixth rollers 142 f provided at the main body case 11 and making contact with the wheel 12. The sixth rollers 142 f and the fourth rollers 142 d of the base portion 151 hold the side wall 12 d of the wheel 12 therebetween. The sixth rollers 142 f prevent the wheel 12 from falling off the base portion 151 in the rotation axis direction. In other words, the fourth rollers 142 d and the sixth rollers 142 f constrain the position of the wheel 12 in the rotation axis direction. The third rollers 152 c, the fourth rollers 142 d, and the sixth rollers 142 f constrain the position of the base portion 151 and the wheel 12 in the rotation axis direction.

The base portion holder 153 has an annular shape, similarly to the base portion 151. The base portion holder 153 is fixed to the main body case 11. The base portion holder 153 includes a flange portion 153 a extending to the inner periphery of the base portion 151 and makes contact with the fifth rollers 142 e.

The base portion holder 153 makes contact with the third rollers 152 c (FIG. 19) and the fifth rollers 142 e (FIG. 21) of the base portion 151, and the sixth rollers 142 f of the main body case 11 makes contact with the wheel 12. The first rollers 152 a (FIG. 18) and the fourth rollers 142 d (FIG. 20) of the base portion 151 make contact with the wheel 12. The base portion holder 153 and the main body case 11 collectively support the base portion 151, the main body handle 14, and the wheel 12.

Although the base portion holder 153 according to the embodiment is arranged inside the main body case 11 and fixed to the main body case 11, the base portion holder 153 may be arranged outside the main body case 11. In other words, the base portion 151, the main body handle 14, and a structure of the rollers (first rollers and second rollers) supporting the wheel 12 may be arranged outside the main body case 11. In this case, the base portion holder 153 preferably serves as a cover of the structure of the rollers.

The first rollers 152 a, and the third rollers 152 c, fourth rollers 142 c 1, and fifth rollers 142 e of the second rollers 152 b are circumferentially arranged in the base portion 151 of annular shape at substantially equal intervals. Further, the first rollers 152 a, and the third rollers 152 c, fourth rollers 142 d, and fifth rollers 142 e of the second rollers 152 b are shifted in position (phase) relative to the rotation axis of the wheel 12 and the rotation axis of the base portion 151. This shift contributes to a reduction in a dimensional difference between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the base portion 151 and a thickness dimension of the base portion 151 in the width direction of the vacuum cleaner body 7.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a handle return unit of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the invention.

In addition to FIGS. 16 and 17, as illustrated in FIG. 22, the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the embodiment includes the handle return unit 155 for storing energy in response to raising the main body handle 14 and consuming the stored energy to generate a force for storing the main body handle 14. The handle return unit 155 is provided on the left side of the vacuum cleaner body 7 where mounting and dismounting of the primary dust container 13 are not affected.

The handle return unit 155 includes a first gear 157 a provided at the base portion 151, a second gear 157 b rotatably supported by the main body case 11 and meshed with the first gear 157 a, a third gear 157 c rotatably supported by the main body case 11 and meshed with the second gear 157 b, and a return spring 158 for storing energy in response to the rotation of the third gear 157 c.

The first gear 157 a is provided on the inner periphery of the base portion 151 where the first rollers 152 a and the second rollers 152 b are not provided. In other words, the first gear 157 a is a so-called internal gear. The first gear 157 a is provided avoiding the flange portion 153 a making contact with the fifth rollers 142 e. In other words, the first gear 157 a and the fifth rollers 142 e are positioned adjacent to each other on the inner periphery of the base portion 151.

The second gear 157 b has a diameter smaller than those of the first gear 157 a and the third gear 157 c.

The third gear 157 c is arranged on the inner side of the base portion 151 of annular shape. The rotation axis of the third gear 157 c is arranged substantially coaxially with the rotation axis of the wheel 12 and the rotation axis of the base portion 151.

The return spring 158 is a so-called torsion spring. The return spring 158 stores energy in response to the rotation of the third gear 157 c.

The handle return unit 155 is configured so that as the main body handle 14 is pulled out of the handle receiving recess lib of the main body case 11 toward the rear end of the main body case 11, the first gear 157 a, the second gear 157 b, and the third gear 157 c are rotated to store energy in the return spring 158, where the first gear 157 a rotates integrally with the base portion 151, and the second gear 157 b transmits the rotation of the first gear 157 a to the third gear 157 c. In addition, while the main body handle 14 is not loaded, that is, while the user does not apply a force, the handle return unit 155 consumes the energy stored in the return spring 158 to rotate the third gear 157 c, and the main body handle 14 is stored in the handle receiving recess 11 b via the second gear 157 b and the first gear 157 a.

While the vacuum cleaner body 7 is lifted, the vacuum cleaner body 7 takes an attitude tilting forward due to the weight of the dust collection hose 22 in which the front side of the vacuum cleaner body 7 is lowered and the back side of the vacuum cleaner body is raised. For this reason, the main body handle 14 and base portion 151 being gripped by the user to lift the vacuum cleaner body 7 are moved relative to the vacuum cleaner body 7. In other words, the vacuum cleaner body 7 swings relative to the main body handle 14 held by the user. The swinging of the vacuum cleaner body 7 reduces the transmission of the bending of the dust collection hose 22 caused by the operation of the pipe portion 8 to the user.

The wheel 12 and the base portion 151 may be rotatably supported separately by the main body case 11.

Further, when the primary dust container 13 is integrated with the main body case 11 or when the primary dust container 13 is configured to be dismounted from the top surface or bottom surface of the main body case 11, the wheel 12 and the base portion 151 do not need to have an annular shape. In this case, the wheel 12 and the base portion 151 may have a hub (not illustrated) at the center of rotation or may merely have a disk shape. FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate the main body case 11 viewed from the left side surface of the vacuum cleaner body 7 which is not related to the mounting and dismounting of the primary dust container 13. Thus, the main body case 11 of FIGS. 16 and 17 is provided with an air outlet cover 11 a having a diffuser for causing exhaust gas from the primary electric fan 15 to flow out.

The station 2 according to the embodiment of the invention will be described in detail.

FIGS. 23 and 24 are each a perspective view of the station of the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the station 2 from which the top plate of the base 41 and the case 48 of the dust collection unit 42 are removed.

As illustrated in FIGS. 23 and 24, the secondary dust container 49 of the station 2 according to the embodiment includes a centrifugal separation unit 163 for centrifuging dust which flows from the dust transport pipe 43 from air. The centrifugal separation unit 163 has multiple stages and includes a first centrifugal separation unit 164 for centrifuging, from air, dust which flows from the dust transport pipe 43, and a second centrifugal separation unit 165 for centrifuging, from air, dust which passes through the first centrifugal separation unit 164.

The first centrifugal separation unit 164 centrifuges coarse dust from dust which flows into the secondary dust container 49. The second centrifugal separation unit 165 centrifuges fine dust which passes through the first centrifugal separation unit 164. The coarse dust means fibrous dust such as lint and cotton dust, or dust having a large mass such as sand grains, and the fine dust means particle or powder dust having a small mass.

The secondary electric fan 50 is connected to the secondary dust container 49 via a downstream air duct 166. The secondary electric fan 50 applies negative pressure to the primary dust container 13 via the downstream air duct 166, the secondary dust container 49, and the dust transport pipe 43 and transports dust accumulated in the primary dust container 13 together with air to the secondary dust container 49.

The station 2 also includes a coupling guide portion 168 provided at the base 41, the drive source 169 for generating a drive force for opening and closing the disposal port cover 92 of the primary dust container 13 of the vacuum cleaner 3, and a power transmission mechanism 171 for transmitting the driving force from the drive source 169 to the vacuum cleaner 3.

The coupling guide portion 168, for coupling the vacuum cleaner body 7 to the station 2, guides the vacuum cleaner body 7 to a position where the charging terminal 46 of the station 2 is suitably connected to the charge electrodes 19 of the vacuum cleaner body 7 and the dust transport pipe 43 is suitably connected to the disposal port 91 of the vacuum cleaner body 7.

A mode in which the vacuum cleaner body 7 is coupled to the station 2, the charging terminal 46 of the station 2 is suitably connected to the charge electrodes 19 of the vacuum cleaner body 7, and the dust transport pipe 43 is suitably connected to the disposal port 91 of the vacuum cleaner body 7 is the storage mode of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1.

The coupling guide portion 168 is recessed in conformity with the shape of the rear end portion of the main body case 11 of the vacuum cleaner body 7. In other words, the coupling guide portion 168 has a shape adapted to the cylindrical shape of the rear half portion of the main body case 11 and is recessed into an arcuate shape in a side view of the station 2. Since the vacuum cleaner body 7 is put down (lowered) from above the base 41 and coupled to the station 2, the coupling guide portion 168 having a shape adapted to the shape of the rear end of the vacuum cleaner body 7 surely position the vacuum cleaner body 7 in the storage mode of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1.

The charging terminal 46 and the inlet of the dust transport pipe 43 are arranged at the coupling guide portion 168. At the inlet of the dust transport pipe 43, a sealing member 173 is provided to seal a connection between the dust transport pipe 43 and the vacuum cleaner 3, that is, a connection between the dust transport pipe 43 and the primary dust container 13.

The drive source 169 includes, for example, an electric motor. The drive source 169 is electrically connected to the station control unit 51. The drive source 169 is controlled by the station control unit 51 as in the secondary electric fan 50.

The drive source 169 generates a drive force for opening and closing the air inlet cover 94 of the vacuum cleaner 3. The drive source 169 generates a driving force for the dust removing mechanism 95 of the vacuum cleaner 3. In other words, the drive source 169 generates a driving force for the disposal port cover 92, the air inlet cover 94, and the dust removing mechanism 95. In other words, the drive source 169 generates a driving force for the driven mechanism 120. The drive source 169 is provided between the inlet of the dust transport pipe 43 and the dust collection unit 42. The drive source 169 generates a driving force for the dust compression mechanism 98 of the vacuum cleaner 3.

The power transmission mechanism 171 is a mechanism for appropriately transmitting the power of the drive source 169 from an output shaft of the drive source 169, namely, an output shaft of the motor to the axis of the joint half body 121 of the vacuum cleaner body 7 in the storage mode of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1. The power transmission mechanism 171 according to the embodiment includes a plurality of, for example three, gears 171 a, 171 b, 171 c meshed with each other, and a gearbox (not illustrated) for rotatably supporting and storing these gears 171 a, 171 b, 171 c. The power transmission mechanism 171 may be a mechanism in which a pulley and a belt are combined or a mechanism in which a chain and a sprocket are combined.

A power transmission path for transmitting a driving force of the drive source 169 from the station 2 to the vacuum cleaner body 7 will be described.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the power transmission path of the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 25 illustrates the power transmission path 175 only on the side of the station 2, that is, illustrates the power transmission mechanism 171 of the station 2.

In addition to FIGS. 10 and 24, as illustrated in FIG. 25, the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1 according to the embodiment includes the power transmission path 175 for transmitting a driving force from the drive source 169 of the station 2 to the disposal port cover 92 of the vacuum cleaner body 7, and a coupler 176 for coupling and decoupling the power transmission path 175 between the station 2 and the vacuum cleaner 3.

The power transmission path 175 includes the power transmission mechanism 96 on the side of the vacuum cleaner 3 and the power transmission mechanism 171 on the side of the station 2. The coupler 176 couples the power transmission mechanism 96 on the side of the vacuum cleaner 3 and the power transmission mechanism 171 on the side of the station 2 to cause the power transmission path 175 to function. The power transmission path 175 transmits a driving force from the drive source 169 on the side of the station 2 to the driven mechanism 120 on the side of the vacuum cleaner 3, namely, to the dust removing mechanism 95, the disposal port cover 92, and the air inlet cover 94.

The power transmission mechanism 171, and the coupler 176 excluding the joint half body 121 of the vacuum cleaner body 7 are covered by the bulging portion 47 of the base 41. When the vacuum cleaner 3 is mounted to the station 2, the coupler 176 is at a retracted position where the coupler 176 can avoid making contact with the vacuum cleaner 3, and when the vacuum cleaner 3 is being mounted to the station 2, the coupler 176 is moved to a coupling position where the driving force of the drive source 169 is transmitted to the vacuum cleaner 3. The bulging portion 47 stores the joint half body 122 so as to be protruded and retracted.

The coupler 176 includes the shaft coupling 129, a drive source, for example, a decoupling spring 177, for generating a force for disconnecting the shaft coupling 129, and a cam mechanism 178 for connecting the shaft coupling 129, with a driving force generated by the drive source 169. In the coupler 176, the shaft coupling 129 is connected by the driving force of the drive source 169 and the shaft coupling 129 is disconnected (separated) by a spring force of the decoupling spring 177.

The shaft coupling 129 is a so-called dog clutch or coupling. The shaft coupling 129 includes the joint half body 121 provided in the power transmission mechanism 96 of the vacuum cleaner 3, and the joint half body 122 provided in the power transmission mechanism 171 of the station 2.

The joint half body 121 includes arcuate grooves 181 (FIG. 10) arranged in circular form. The joint half body 122 includes shafts 182 arranged in circular form. Each of the shafts 182 has a diameter dimension sufficient to be inserted into or removed from each of the arcuate grooves 181. The shaft 182 is preferably tapered to facilitate insertion into the arcuate groove 181.

The joint half body 122 is always rotated by a driving force transmitted by the power transmission mechanism 171. The joint half body 121 rotates with the joint half body 122 by joining the shaft coupling 129. The joint half body 122 protrudes from the bulging portion 47 of the station 2 to be coupled to the joint half body 121. The joint half body 122 protrudes from the bulging portion 47 arranged by the side of the vacuum cleaner body 7 in a width direction of the vacuum cleaner body 7 and is coupled to the joint half body 121. In other words, upon demounting the vacuum cleaner body 7 from the station 2 and when returning the vacuum cleaner body 7 to the station 2, the coupler 176 protrudes or retracts the joint half body 122 from the bulging portion 47 in a direction in which the vacuum cleaner body 7 moves, that is, in a direction intersecting a vertical direction, and the shaft coupling 129 is coupled. In other words, the moving direction of the vacuum cleaner 3 upon mounting the vacuum cleaner 3 to the station 2 crosses a direction in which the coupler 176 moves between the retracted position and the coupling position. Accordingly, the coupler 176 prevents, for example, dust from intruding into the station 2 from a gap between the bulging portion 47 and the joint half body 122, ensuring preferable operation of the power transmission mechanism 171.

In addition to the joint half body 122 projecting from the bulging portion 47 in a width direction of the vacuum cleaner body 7 to be coupled to the joint half body 121, a joint half body 122 may be adopted which is provided to be protruded from the coupling guide portion 168, being coupled to the joint half body 121 in response to coupling the vacuum cleaner body 7 to the station 2 (in FIG. 23, the joint half body 122 indicated by a two-dot chain line). Further, the joint half body 122 may be arranged in the dust collection unit 42 to be protruded forward from the station 2 and coupled to the joint half body 121 (in FIG. 23, the joint half body 122 indicated by a two-dot chain line).

The decoupling spring 177 pulls the joint half body 122 in a direction in which the shaft coupling 129 is disconnected, that is, in a direction in which the shaft coupling 129 is separated from the joint half body 121. In other words, the decoupling spring 177 pulls the joint half body 122 in a direction in which the joint half body 122 is embedded in the bulging portion 47.

The cam mechanism 178 is provided in the station 2. The cam mechanism 178 is a so-called end cam. The cam mechanism 178 converts the rotational movement of the power transmission mechanism 171 into a linear movement of the joint half body 122, that is, a movement in which the joint half body 122 is protruded and retracted from the bulging portion 47, and rotates the joint half body 122 when the linear movement of the joint half body 122 appropriately advances. The cam mechanism 178 includes a driving member 183 rotated by the power transmission mechanism 171 and a driven member 184 provided at the joint half body 122. The driven member 184 includes a first cam surface 184 a positioned closest to the shafts 182 of the joint half body 122 and extending in the circumferential direction of the joint half body 122, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the joint half body 122, a second cam surface 184 b inclined relative to the rotation axis of the joint half body 122 and extending in a direction opposite to that of the shafts 182 of the joint half body 122, and a third cam surface 184 c connected to the top of the second cam surface 184 b and extending away from the first cam surface 184 a. The third cam surface 184 c extends substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the joint half body 122. The driving member 183 has a shape making line contact with the first cam surface 184 a and the second cam surface 184 b and making surface contact with the third cam surface 184 c.

The coupler 176, being not coupled, puts the driving member 183 against the first cam surface 184 a of the driven member 184 of the cam mechanism 178 or puts the driving member 183 closest to the first cam surface 184 a. In this state, the joint half body 122 is located deepest inside the bulging portion 47 of the station 2 and hidden. When the drive source 169 is activated, the driving member 183 rotates together with the gear 171 c of the power transmission mechanism 171. The rotating driving member 183 moves along the first cam surface 184 a of the driven member 184, approaches the second cam surface 184 b, and rides on the second cam surface 184 b. Then, the joint half body 122 is pressed out of the bulging portion 47 by a force of the driving member 183 pressing the second cam surface 184 b and is coupled to the joint half body 121. As the rotation of the joint half body 122 advances and the driving member 183 makes surface contact with the third cam surface 184 c, the whole of the coupler 176 rotates in synchronization with the driving member 183.

The joint half body 122 is drawn into the bulging portion 47 by the spring force of the decoupling spring 177. This spring force generates an appropriate frictional force between the driving member 183 and the driven member 184 and causes the driving member 183 to reliably ride up on the second cam surface 184 b of the driven member 184.

The cam mechanism 178 includes the second cam surface 184 b and the third cam surface 184 c in any of a direction of forward rotation (clockwise) of the joint half body 122 and a direction of reverse rotation (counterclockwise) of the joint half body 122, when viewing the joint half body 121 of the vacuum cleaner body 7 from the joint half body 122 of the station 2. In other words, the cam mechanism 178 includes a pair of the second cam surfaces 184 b and the third cam surfaces 184 c, holding the first cam surface 184 a therebetween.

Here, for example, the power transmission path 175 opens the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94 by forwardly rotating the joint half body 122 and closes the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94 by reversely rotating the joint half body 122. One of the second cam surfaces 184 b and one of the third cam surfaces 184 c join the coupler 176 in response to the forward rotation of the joint half body 122 to open the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94. The other of the second cam surfaces 184 b and the other of the third cam surfaces 184 c join the coupler 176 in response to the reverse rotation of the joint half body 122 to close the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94.

The coupler 176 may include a charging terminal 186 for supplying power from the station 2 to the secondary battery 17 to charge the secondary battery 17. The charging terminal 186 charges the secondary battery 17 in place of the charging terminal 46 provided at the base 41. The charging terminal 186 is provided on both of the joint half body 121 of the vacuum cleaner body 7 and the joint half body 122 of the station 2. The charging terminals 186 are electrically connected when the coupler 176 is coupled, that is, when the joint half body 122 of the station 2 and the joint half body 121 of the vacuum cleaner body 7 are coupled.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram of the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 26, the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1 according to the embodiment includes a control circuit 191 on the side of the vacuum cleaner 3 and a control circuit 192 on the side of the station 2.

The control circuit 191 on the side of the vacuum cleaner 3 mainly controls operation of the primary electric fan 15. The control circuit 191 on the side of the vacuum cleaner 3 includes the primary electric fan 15 connected in series to the secondary battery 17, a switching element 195 for opening and closing an electric path connecting the secondary battery 17 and the primary electric fan 15, a control power supply unit 196 for converting the voltage of the secondary battery 17 to supply power to the vacuum cleaner control unit 16, and the vacuum cleaner control unit 16 for controlling operation of the primary electric fan 15.

The switching element 195 includes a gate connected to the vacuum cleaner control unit 16. The switching element 195 changes an input to the primary electric fan 15 according to a change in gate current.

The control power supply unit 196 is a power supply circuit for generating control power for the vacuum cleaner control unit 16.

The control circuit 192 on the side of the station 2 mainly controls operation of the secondary electric fan 50. The control circuit 192 on the side of the station 2 includes the secondary electric fan 50 connected in series to a commercial AC power source E, a switching element 197 for opening and closing an electric path connecting the commercial AC power source E and the secondary electric fan 50, a control power supply unit 198 for converting the commercial AC power supply E to supply power to the station control unit 51, the mounting detectors 45 for detecting mounting of the vacuum cleaner 3 to the station 2, the station control unit 51 for controlling operation of the secondary electric fan 50, and a notification unit 199 connected to the station control unit 51. The control circuit 192 on the side of the station 2 also includes a charging circuit (not illustrated) for the secondary battery 17 of the vacuum cleaner 3.

The switching element 197 is an element, such as a bidirectional thyristor or a reverse blocking triode thyristor. The switching element 197 includes a gate connected to the station control unit 51. The switching element 197 changes an input of the secondary electric fan 50 according to a change in gate current.

The control power supply unit 198 is a power supply circuit for generating control power for the station control unit 51.

The mounting detectors 45 are preferably connected to the control circuit 192 so as to open the electric path when a target to be detected is in the storage state and to close the electric path when the target to be detected is not in the storage state, that is, when the target to be detected is in a use state.

In other words, when the vacuum cleaner 3 is coupled to the station 2, that is, when the vacuum cleaner 3 is mounted to the station 2 or when the vacuum cleaner 3 is placed on the base 41, the first mounting detector 45 a opens the electric path. On the other hand, when the vacuum cleaner 3 is decoupled from the station 2, that is, when the vacuum cleaner 3 is dismounted from the station 2 or when the vacuum cleaner 3 is separated from the base 41, the first mounting detector 45 a closes the electric path. When the pipe portion 8 of the vacuum cleaner 3 is mounted to the station 2, the second mounting detector 45 b opens the electric path. Moreover, when the pipe portion 8 of the vacuum cleaner 3 is separated from the station 2, the second mounting detector 45 b closes the electric path. The same applies to the pipe attachment portion 53 which is provided at the vacuum cleaner body 7. In this case, the electric path opened and closed by the second mounting detector 45 b is included in the control circuit 191 on the side of the vacuum cleaner 3.

When at least two mounting detectors 45 of the mounting detectors 45 detect that the vacuum cleaner 3 is mounted to the station 2, the station control unit 51 permits transport of dust from the primary dust container 13 to the secondary dust container 49. Then, after a predetermined delay time has passed from the permission of transport of the dust, that is, after the predetermined delay time has passed from the detection that the vacuum cleaner 3 is mounted to the station 2 by the at least two mounting detectors 45 of the mounting detectors 45, the station control unit 51 activates the secondary electric fan 50 to start the transport of dust.

The mounting detectors 45 may include a third mounting detector 45 c for detecting that the main body handle 14 of the vacuum cleaner 3 is in the storage position. The mounting detectors 45 may include a third mounting detector 45 c in addition to the first mounting detector 45 a and the second mounting detector 45 b. Further, the mounting detectors 45 may include the third mounting detector 45 c instead of the second mounting detector 45 b. In a case where the mounting detectors 45 include the first mounting detector 45 a, the second mounting detector 45 b, and the third mounting detector 45 c, the station control unit 51 may be configured to permit transport of dust from the primary dust container 13 to the secondary dust container 49, when all three mounting detectors 45 detect that the vacuum cleaner 3 is mounted to the station 2. In addition, the station control unit 51 may be configured to permit the transport of dust from the primary dust container 13 to the secondary dust container 49, when two of the three mounting detectors 45, that is, a set of the first mounting detector 45 a and the second mounting detector 45 b, a set of the first mounting detector 45 a and the third mounting detector 45 c, or a set of the second mounting detector 45 b and the third mounting detector 45 c detect that the vacuum cleaner 3 is mounted to the station 2. Further, the station control unit 51 may configured to always include the first mounting detector 45 a of the three mounting detectors 45 and permit the transport of dust from the primary dust container 13 to the secondary dust container 49 when two mounting detectors 45, that is, the first mounting detector 45 a and the second mounting detector 45 b or the third mounting detector 45 c detect that the vacuum cleaner 3 is mounted to the station 2.

The main body handle 14 is movable between the use position and the storage position. The storage position of the main body handle 14 represents a position of the main body handle 14 in a state where the main body handle 14 is stored in the handle receiving recess lib of the main body case 11. In contrast, the use position of the main body handle 14 represents a position of the main body handle 14 in a state where the main body handle 14 is pulled out of the handle receiving recess lib of the main body case 11.

When at least one of the mounting detectors 45 has not yet detected that the vacuum cleaner 3 has mounted to the station 2, within a predetermined time after the other mounting detector 45 detects the mounting of the vacuum cleaner 3 to the station 2, the notification unit 199 gives notice. In other words, when at least one of the mounting detectors 45 has not yet detected that the vacuum cleaner 3 has mounted to the station 2, within the predetermined time after the other mounting detector 45 detects the mounting of the vacuum cleaner 3 to the station 2, the notification unit 199 gives notice that the vacuum cleaner 3 is incompletely mounted to the station 2. The notification unit 199 includes a device for giving visual notice to the user of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1, for example, a display for displaying information such as letters, a lighted or blinking lamp and a light emitting diode (LED), a device for giving audible notice to the user of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1, such as a sound emitter for emitting electrically synthesized voice or buzzer sound, or a device for giving tactile notice to the user of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1, such as a vibrator.

The vacuum cleaner body 7 is coupled to the station 2 and the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1 is shifted to the storage mode. Then, the charge electrodes 19 of the vacuum cleaner body 7 makes contact with the charging terminal 46 of the station 2 to be electrically connected to the charging terminal 46. The inlet of the dust transport pipe 43 makes close contact with an outer surface of the container body 78 of the primary dust container 13 through the main body case disposal port 100 of the vacuum cleaner body 7.

FIG. 27 is a sequence diagram relating to movement of dust from the vacuum cleaner to the station by the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 27, the drive source 169 of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1 according to the embodiment is configured to keep stopping the vacuum cleaner 3 having been stored in the station 2 and keep the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94 closing until the transport of dust from the primary dust container 13 to the secondary dust container 49 is started.

The station control unit 51 detects that the vacuum cleaner body 7 is coupled to the station 2, on the basis of detection results of the mounting detectors 45. When at least two of the mounting detectors 45 detect that the vacuum cleaner body 7 is coupled to the station 2, the station control unit 51 activates the chive source 169 after the predetermined delay time has passed When the drive source 169 is activated, the joint half body 122 of the station 2 protrudes from the bulging portion 47 and is coupled to the joint half body 121 of the vacuum cleaner body 7. In other words, the coupler 176 is coupled (time lag a in FIG. 27). The station control unit 51 continues operation of the drive source 169 even after the coupler 176 is coupled. The power transmission path 175 to which the coupler 176 is coupled distributes and transmits the driving force of the drive source 169 to the disposal port cover 92, the air inlet cover 94, and the dust removing mechanism 95.

The disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94 are fully opened by the driving force transmitted from the power transmission path 175. In other words, when the vacuum cleaner 3 is stored to the station 2, the secondary dust container 49 is connected to the primary dust container 13 via the disposal port 91 and the dust transport pipe 43 in a fluid communication manner.

Further, the dust removing mechanism 95 removes fine dust attached to the filters 86, 87 by the driving force transmitted from the power transmission path 175. The station control unit 51 causes the drive source 169 to stop once after continuously operating the drive source 169 for an appropriate period of time, for example 10 seconds, for which the dust removing mechanism 95 removes fine dust attached to the filters 86, 87.

The secondary electric fan 50 generates negative pressure after the drive source 169 fully opens the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94. The station control unit 51 activates the secondary electric fan 50. The activated secondary electric fan 50 sucks air from the secondary dust container 49 and generates negative pressure. In other words, the secondary electric fan 50 applies the negative pressure to the secondary dust container 49, after the drive source 169 opens the disposal port cover 92. The secondary electric fan 50 applies the negative pressure to the secondary dust container 49, after the drive source 169 opens the air inlet cover 94. After the drive source 169 drives the dust removing mechanism 95, the secondary electric fan 50 applies the negative pressure to the secondary dust container 49.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 27, the drive source 169 stops the dust removing mechanism 95 and then activates the secondary electric fan 50, but the drive source 169 may activate the secondary electric fan 50 during driving of the dust removing mechanism 95, as long as the drive source 169 has opened the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94.

The negative pressure applied to the secondary dust container 49 is applied to the primary dust container 13 through the dust transport pipe 43 and the disposal port 91. Then, the primary dust container 13 sucks air from the air inlet 93. At this time, air is also sucked from the main body connection port 18. The air sucked into the primary dust container 13 causes coarse dust in the coarse dust collection chamber 71 to flow from the coarse dust disposal port 101 to the dust transport pipe 43 and fine dust in the filter chamber 72 to flow from the fine dust disposal port 102 to the dust transport pipe 43. The dust (dust having a mixture of the coarse dust and the fine dust) which flows into the dust transport pipe 43 is sucked into the secondary dust container 49 through the dust transport pipe 43.

The first centrifugal separation unit 164 of the secondary dust container 49 separates coarse dust from dust which flows from the dust transport pipe 43 and accumulates the coarse dust. The second centrifugal separation unit 165 separates and accumulates fine dust which passes through the first centrifugal separation unit 164.

The station control unit 51 operates the secondary electric fan 50 for an appropriate period of time, for example 10 seconds, transports substantially all the dust accumulated in the primary dust container 13 to the secondary dust container 49, and then stops the secondary electric fan 50. In addition, after the secondary electric fan 50 stops and the secondary dust container 49 returns to have positive pressure (that is, atmospheric pressure, time lag B in FIG. 27), the station control unit 51 causes the drive source 169, which is temporarily stopped, to rotated reversely. When the drive source 169 starts to rotate reversely, the joint half body 122 of the station 2 separates from the joint half body 121 of the vacuum cleaner body 7 and is retracted into the bulging portion 47 once. In other words, the coupling of the coupler 176 is temporarily released. The station control unit 51 continues the reverse rotation of the drive source 169. When the reverse rotation of the drive source 169 continues, the joint half body 122 of the station 2 protrudes again from the bulging portion 47 and is coupled to the joint half body 121 of the vacuum cleaner body 7 (time lag y in FIG. 27). In other words, the coupler 176 is coupled. The station control unit 51 continues the operation of the drive source 169. The power transmission path 175 to which the coupler 176 is coupled distributes and transmits the driving force of the drive source 169 to the disposal port cover 92, the air inlet cover 94, and the dust removing mechanism 95.

After the secondary electric fan 50 stops the operation of generating negative pressure for transporting dust, the drive source 169 generates a drive force for closing the disposal port cover 92 to close the disposal port 91. Further, after the secondary electric fan 50 stops the operation of generating negative pressure for transporting dust, the drive source 169 generates a drive force for closing the air inlet cover 94 to close the air inlet 93. The disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94 are fully closed by the driving forces transmitted from the power transmission path 175. The station control unit 51 continuously rotates the drive source 169 reversely for an appropriate period of time, for example three seconds, for which the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94 are fully closed.

Then, after the disposal port cover 92 and the air inlet cover 94 are fully closed, the station control unit 51 temporarily stops the drive source 169. Then, the station control unit 51 causes the drive source 169 to rotate forward again. As the drive source 169 starts to rotate forward, the joint half body 122 of the station 2 separates from the joint half body 121 of the vacuum cleaner body 7 and is retracted into the bulging portion 47 once. In other words, the coupling of the coupler 176 is released again. After the joint half body 122 of the station 2 is retracted into the bulging portion 47, the station control unit 51 stops the drive source 169. In other words, when operating the dust removing mechanism 95, the disposal port cover 92, and the air inlet cover 94, namely, the driven mechanism 120, the coupler 176 moves to the retracted position.

The handle 55 of the vacuum cleaner 3 and the base 41 and the deceleration mechanism 44 of the station 2 according to the embodiment will be described.

FIG. 28 is a side view of the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the deceleration mechanism of the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 30 and 31 are each a cross-sectional view of the deceleration mechanism of the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 30 illustrates the deceleration mechanism 44 which is flipped up approaching the vacuum cleaner body 7 and standing by. FIG. 31 illustrates the deceleration mechanism 44 having been moved to enable the vacuum cleaner body 7 to move forward when the vacuum cleaner body 7 is separated from the station 2.

In addition to FIGS. 1 and 2, as illustrated in FIGS. 28 to 31, the handle 55 of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1 according to the embodiment vertically extends in the storage attitude in which the vacuum cleaner 3 is loaded on the station 2. The handle 55 is provided on a side opposite to the dust collection unit 42 in the storage state in which the vacuum cleaner 3 is loaded to the station 2. In other words, the handle 55 is arranged on the front side of the station 2 in the storage state in which the vacuum cleaner 3 is loaded on the station 2.

The vacuum cleaner body 7 which is in the use attitude is caused to stand to change the attitude of the vacuum cleaner body 7 into the storage attitude, the vacuum cleaner body 7 in this storage attitude is lowered to the base 41 from above the station 2, and the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1 is brought into the storage mode. At this time, when the vacuum cleaner body 7 is pulled up by holding the handle 55, the attitude of the vacuum cleaner 3 is readily changed to the storage attitude in which the front side of the vacuum cleaner body 7 is directed upward, and the back side of the vacuum cleaner body is directed downward, due to a positional relationship between the handle 55, the center of gravity of the vacuum cleaner body 7, and each of the wheels 12. In other words, when the handle 55 is pulled up, the vacuum cleaner body 7 rises around the rotation axis of each wheel 12 with the wheels 12 making contact with the ground. The user can hold the handle 55 with the fingers and causes the vacuum cleaner body 7 to stand with a simple raising operation and lift the vacuum cleaner body 7 while holding the handle 55. Accordingly, a burden on the user is reduced to load the vacuum cleaner body 7 to the base 41 of the station 2, and the convenience is increased.

The base 41 includes the placing base surface 41 a and a ground contact guide surface 201 making contact with the wheels 12 upon laying down the vacuum cleaner body 7 in the storage attitude. Further, the base 41 includes a tilt fulcrum portion 202 for supporting the vacuum cleaner body 7 upon laying down the vacuum cleaner body 7 in the storage attitude.

The vacuum cleaning apparatus 1 includes a slip preventing portion 203 provided at the tilt fulcrum portion 202 or the vacuum cleaner body 7 to avoid slipping of the vacuum cleaner body 7 and the tilt fulcrum portion 202 upon laying down the vacuum cleaner body 7 in the storage attitude.

The placing base surface 41 a has an arcuate shape in conformity with the shape, namely, an arcuate shape of the back surface of the vacuum cleaner body 7. The placing base surface 41 a is recessed in an arcuate shape relative to a horizontal plane.

The ground contact guide surface 201 has an inclined surface lowering toward the front side of the station 2 so that the vacuum cleaner body 7 to be laid down from the storage attitude to the use attitude readily moves to the front side of the station 2. The ground contact guide surface 201 is connected to a wheel arrangement recess 205 of arcuate shape for storing the wheels 12 of the vacuum cleaner body 7 stored in the station 2. Accordingly, the wheels 12 smoothly make contact with the ground contact guide surface 201 upon laying down the vacuum cleaner body 7 from the storage attitude to the use attitude and supports the vacuum cleaner body 7.

The tilt fulcrum portion 202 is provided higher than a lowermost portion of the placing base surface 41 a. Accordingly, when the vacuum cleaner body 7 in the storage attitude is laid down, the vacuum cleaner body 7 falls down like a lever around the tilt fulcrum portion 202, and smoothly transitions to the use attitude.

When the vacuum cleaner body 7 is laid down into the use attitude, slipping does not occur preferably at a contact point between the tilt fulcrum portion 202 and the vacuum cleaner body 7 When the vacuum cleaner body 7 is slipped at the contact point between the tilt fulcrum portion 202 and the vacuum cleaner body 7, it is difficult to define the behavior of the vacuum cleaner body 7 being laid down or the path or trajectory of laying down. Accordingly, it is preferable that the contact point between the tilt fulcrum portion 202 and the vacuum cleaner body 7 should not have a large slip while allowing a slight slip. Accordingly, the sealing member 173 provided at the inlet of the dust transport pipe 43 also serves as the tilt fulcrum portion 202. The sealing member 173 causes a position where a side portion 43 b on the front side of the dust transport pipe 43 is sealed to function as the tilt fulcrum portion 202. The sealing member 173 preferably includes natural rubber or a synthetic rubber, such as silicone rubber, in order to seal the connecting between the dust transport pipe 43 and the primary dust container 13. The sealing member 173 is hardly slipped to the vacuum cleaner body 7 and is in contact with the vacuum cleaner body 7 which is in the storage state, and thus, the sealing member 173 is preferably used as the tilt fulcrum portion 202 and also functions as the slip preventing portion 203.

The tilt fulcrum portion 202 may include a member other than the sealing member 173. In other words, the tilt fulcrum portion 202 may have a projection of rib shape provided at the base 41. Further, also the slip preventing portion 203 may be a member other than the sealing member 173. As long as the slip preventing portion is held between the vacuum cleaner body 7 and the tilt fulcrum portion 202, the slip preventing portion may be provided on the side of the vacuum cleaner body 7 or may be provided on the side of the station 2.

The deceleration mechanism 44 is provided at a front end of the base 41 of the station 2. The deceleration mechanism 44 reduces the moving speed of the vacuum cleaner body 7 during movement of the vacuum cleaner body 7 from the storage attitude to the use attitude, that is, during the vacuum cleaner body 7 is laid down. The deceleration mechanism 44 includes a hinge 211, a support plate portion 212 swingably supported by the hinge 211, and a resilient member 213 for storing energy upon moving to move the vacuum cleaner body 7 forward and consuming the stored energy to restore the deceleration mechanism 44 to a standby position.

The hinge 211 includes a shaft 215 supported at the base 41 of the station 2 and a plate portion 216 to which the support plate portion 212 is fixed. The plate portion 216 defines a hole 217 in which the shaft 215 is arranged. The plate portion 216 swings around the shaft 215. In other words, the deceleration mechanism 44 is moved by the hinge 211 so as to be laid down between the standby position closer to the vacuum cleaner body 7 and a deployed position where the vacuum cleaner body 7 can move forward. The shaft 215 extends in a width direction of the vacuum cleaner body 7 being in the storage state. In other words, the shaft 215 is arranged substantially parallel with the rotation axis of the wheels 12 of the vacuum cleaner body 7 loaded on the base 41. Accordingly, when the deceleration mechanism 44 is laid down, the vacuum cleaner body 7 is brought into the use attitude.

The support plate portion 212 makes contact with the main body case 11 moved, that is, laid down from the storage state to the use state to support the vacuum cleaner body 7. The support plate portion 212 extends in a width direction of the main body case 11 to stably support the vacuum cleaner body 7 moving. The support plate portion 212 preferably includes a protective material, for example, fuzz on a surface making contact with the vacuum cleaner body 7.

In addition, the support plate portion 212 has a surface inclined from the coupling guide portion 168 to the surface to be cleaned so as to facilitate separation of the vacuum cleaner body 7 from the base 41 when the support plate portion 212 moves so as to move the vacuum cleaner body 7 forward, that is, when the vacuum cleaner body 7 is laid down from the storage attitude to the use attitude.

The deceleration mechanism 44 may limit the moving speed with a so-called brake mechanism 218. The deceleration mechanism 44 may include an oil damper (not illustrated) which contains hydraulic oil.

When the user pulls any portion of the pipe portion 8 of the vacuum cleaner 3, preferably, the hand operation pipe 23 or the grip portion 25, the resilient member 213 cannot resist a user's operation force and the falling moment of the vacuum cleaner body 7 and moves the deceleration mechanism 44 (lay down). This movement causes the resilient member 213 to store energy for raising the deceleration mechanism 44.

Further, the resilient member 213 includes, for example, a torsion spring. The resilient member 213 does not disturb falling of the vacuum cleaner body 7 loaded on the base 41 in the storage attitude due to applying an external force and raises the deceleration mechanism 44 to the standby position after the vacuum cleaner body 7 is separated from the station 2.

The charging terminal 46 of the station 2 is connectable to the vacuum cleaner body 7 being in the storage state and disconnected from the vacuum cleaner body 7 when the vacuum cleaner body 7 is laid down into the use attitude. For this reason, the terminal cover 219 of the charging terminal 46 includes a slit 219 a directed upward from the station 2 and a slit 219 b directed in a direction in which the vacuum cleaner 3 is separated from the station 2, that is, toward the front side of the station 2 (FIG. 24). The charging terminal 46 is connected to the charge electrodes 19 of the vacuum cleaner body 7 inserted into the slits 219 a, 219 b.

The vacuum cleaner 3 can be used by raising the vacuum cleaner body 7 being in the storage attitude from the base 41 upward from the station 2, putting the vacuum cleaner body 7 on the surface to be cleaned (floor surface), and laying down the vacuum cleaner body 7 into the use attitude. However, raising and moving the vacuum cleaner body 7 is less convenient to use the vacuum cleaner 3.

Accordingly, the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1 according to the embodiment is configured to start use of the vacuum cleaner 3 by tilting and laying down the vacuum cleaner body 7 being in the storage attitude. For example, when the user pulls the dust collection hose 22 toward the front side of the station 2 by holding any portion of the pipe portion 8 of the vacuum cleaner 3, preferably, the hand operation pipe 23 or the grip portion 25, the vacuum cleaner body 7 is laid down into the use attitude (FIG. 28). The tilt fulcrum portion 202 functions as a fulcrum for transition of the vacuum cleaner body 7 from the storage attitude to the use attitude. In other words, when a force sufficient to ride over the tilt fulcrum portion 202 is applied to the vacuum cleaner body 7 by the user's operation, the vacuum cleaner body 7 transitions from the storage attitude to the use attitude while turning around with the tilt fulcrum portion 202 as a fulcrum. At this time, the deceleration mechanism 44 reduces the moving speed of the vacuum cleaner body 7 falling down to reduce the impact on the vacuum cleaner body 7. In addition, when the auxiliary wheel 12 b (FIG. 28) of the vacuum cleaner 3 makes contact with the ground, the suspension mechanism 56 (FIG. 4) provided between the auxiliary wheel 12 b and the handle 55 reduces the ground contact to the vacuum cleaner body 7.

When the user further pulls the pipe portion 8, the vacuum cleaner body 7 is separated from the station 2. In other words, the user is only required to pull the pipe portion 8 to cause the vacuum cleaner 3 to quickly and smoothly start cleaning.

In addition, the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1 is configured so that the pipe portion 8 is pulled forward from the station 2 to lay down the vacuum cleaner 3 forward from the station 2, and the pipe portion 8 is further pulled forward from the station 2 to separate the vacuum cleaner 3 from the station 2. Accordingly, in the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1, only pulling the pipe portion 8 forward from the station 2 is required to change the attitude of the vacuum cleaner body 7 (change in attitude from the storage attitude to the use attitude) and then start the use of the vacuum cleaner body 7.

In addition to the station 2 having the charging function and the dust collecting function, the deceleration mechanism 44 can be applied to even a simple storage stand without these functions.

The vacuum cleaner 3 according to the embodiment includes a pair of wheels 12 provided on the left and right side portions of the main body case 11 to movably support the main body case 11 and to conceal at least the back surface of the main body case 11 when viewed in a rotation axis direction, and the secondary battery 17 provided in the area sandwiched between the pair of wheels 12 and arranged in conformity with the shape of the main body case 11. Accordingly, in the vacuum cleaner 3, the center of gravity of the vacuum cleaner body 7 is positioned closer to the rotation axis of the wheels 12, increasing easiness in facing the vacuum cleaner body 7 upward around the rotation axis of the wheels 12 or causing the vacuum cleaner body 7 to stand, increasing operability.

Moreover, the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the embodiment includes the secondary battery 17 having an arcuate shape which is centered substantially at the rotation axis of the pair of wheels 12. Accordingly, the vacuum cleaner 3 is configured so that the secondary battery 17 is arranged space-efficiently in the main body case 11 and the weight of the vacuum cleaner body 7 is uniformly distributed around the rotation axis of the wheels 12, smoothing upward or downward facing movement of the vacuum cleaner body 7 around the rotation axis of the wheels 12 or standing movement of the vacuum cleaner body 7.

Further, the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the embodiment includes the secondary battery 17 of arcuate shape which has the center arranged at the center of a dimension in a direction orthogonal to the center line of the main body case 11 on a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis of the pair of wheels 12. Accordingly, in the vacuum cleaner 3, the weight of the vacuum cleaner body 7 is distributed more uniformly around the rotation axis of the wheels 12 to smooth upward or downward facing movement of the vacuum cleaner body 7 around the rotation axis of the wheels 12 or standing movement of the vacuum cleaner body 7.

As described above, the vacuum cleaner 3 can have further increased easiness in handling the vacuum cleaner body 7.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; Further, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions. 

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a main body case which has a suction port at a front side of the main body case; a pair of wheels which is provided on left and right side portions of the main body case to support the main body case movably and conceals at least a back surface of the main body case when viewed in a rotation axis direction; and a secondary battery which is provided in an area sandwiched between the pair of wheels and arranged in conformity with a shape of the main body case.
 2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the secondary battery has an arcuate shape which is centered substantially at a rotation axis of the pair of wheels.
 3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a center of the arcuate shape of the secondary battery is arranged at a center of a dimension in a direction orthogonal to a center line of the main body case on a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis of the pair of wheels.
 4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein a center of the arcuate shape of the secondary battery is arranged at a center of a dimension in a direction orthogonal to a center line of the main body case on a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis of the pair of wheels. 